| Abstract [eng] |
The dissertation is based on the theoretical perspective of developmental psychopathology and focuses on emotional problems and their change in adolescents with learning disabilities at ages 12 to 15. The aim of the dissertation is to identify the importance of learning disability as a risk factor and other individual and interpersonal factors for emotional problems in adolescence. The study assessed 95 adolescents with learning disabilities and 93 peers without learning disabilities, thereby evaluating their emotional problems, self-perceptions, friendships, perceived social support from peers, parents and teachers as well as bullying experience. It was found that adolescents with learning disabilities had more emotional problems compared with their peers, but only at age 12-13, not at age 14-15. The main predictor of emotional problems after two years was bullying experience, although the results indicate that the same level of bullying was experienced by both groups. Learning disability as a risk factor contributes to emotional problems but only in combination with other interpersonal factors, namely the number of good friends and bullying experience; learning disability enhances vulnerability for emotional problems. The results of the dissertation call for recognition of the relevance of interpersonal factors, bullying experience in particular, for the emotional well-being of adolescents with learning disabilities. |
