Emotional and behavioral problems among children with developmental dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To compare the differences and similarities in emotional and behavioral problems among children with developmental dyslexia (DD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or both, aiming to provide basis for targeted intervention.@*Methods@#Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to investigate emotional and behavioral problems among four groups of children (DD=32, ADHD=32, DD+ADHD=14, TD=32). Hierarchical regression analysis was recruited to investigate the associations of emotional and behavioral problems with spelling impairment or ADHD symptoms.@*Results@#Except for peer problems, emotional and behavioral problems varied in the four groups [prosocial DD (641±2.75), ADHD (5.53±2.49), combined (7.07±2.37), control (7.72±2.19), F=4.42, P<0.05; emotional problems DD (1.81±1.94), ADHD (3.66±1.66), combined (3.21±2.33), control (2.03±1.99), F=6.36， P<0.05; conduct problems DD (2.31±1.23), ADHD (3.66±1.77), combined (2.64±1.98), control (1.97±1.31), F=7.24, P<0.05; difficulties score DD (6.94±2.96), ADHD (10.28±3.90), combined (9.07±3.17), control (6.06±3.94), F=8.82, P<0.05 ], most serious in ADHD group. In addition, children in DD group scored higher than those in normal group in terms of prosocial behavior. Children in the combined group showed higher total scores of peer problems and difficult score than those in the normal group. Emotional symptoms were more serious among children in combined group than those in the DD group. Compared with the combined group, behavioral problems in ADHD group were more common. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that occurrence of emotional and behavioral problems in combined group was mostly mediated by hyperactivity symptoms.@*Conclusion@#Compared with DD group, children with ADHD combined or not combined with DD show more emotional and behavioral problems. Emotional and behavioral problems are notably observed among those with hyperactivity symptoms than DD.