Longitudinal trajectories of peer relations in children with specific language impairment. (11th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mok, Pearl L. H.; Pickles, Andrew; Durkin, Kevin; Conti‐Ramsden, Gina
• Is Part Of: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry and allied disciplines. Volume 55:Number 5(2014:May)
• Page Start: 516
• Page End: 527
• Publication Date: 2014-01-11
• Subjects: Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; 155.4
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12190
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9630

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jcpp12190-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jcpp12190-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Peer relations is a vulnerable area of functioning in children with specific language impairment (SLI), but little is known about the developmental trajectories of individuals.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcpp12190-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Peer problems were investigated over a 9‐year period (from 7 to 16 years of age) in 171 children with a history of SLI. Discrete factor growth modelling was used to chart developmental trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate factors associated with group membership.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcpp12190-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Four distinct developmental trajectories were identified: low‐level/no problems in peer relations (22.2% of participants), childhood‐limited problems (12.3%), childhood‐onset persistent problems (39.2%) and adolescent‐onset problems (26.3%). Risk of poor trajectories of peer relations was greater for those children with pragmatic language difficulties. Prosocial behaviour was the factor most strongly associated with trajectory group membership. Overall, the more prosocial children with better pragmatic language skills and lower levels of emotional problems had less difficulty in developing peer relations.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcpp12190-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Analysis of developmental trajectories enriches our understanding of social development. A sizeable minority in the present sample sustained positive relations through childhood and adolescence, and others overcame early difficulties to achieve low levels of problems by their early teens; the majority, however, showed childhood‐onset persistent or adolescent‐onset problems.</p> </sec> </abstract>