Loading...
Internalizing problems in individuals with reading, mathematics and unspecified learning difficulties : a systematic review and meta-analysis
Vieira, Ana Paula Alves Peng, Peng Antoniuk, Andrea DeVries, Jodi Rothou, Kyriakoula Parrila, Rauno Georgiou, George K.
Vieira, Ana Paula Alves
Peng, Peng
Antoniuk, Andrea
DeVries, Jodi
Rothou, Kyriakoula
Parrila, Rauno
Georgiou, George K.
Abstract
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine if individuals with reading difficulties (RD), mathematics difficulties (MD), or unspecified learning difficulties (ULD) experience internalizing problems (i.e., anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, and social withdrawal) to the same extent, and if the effect sizes are influenced by moderators (age, internalizing problems type, anxiety type, rater type, selection criteria, and attention control). We reviewed 2,806 studies published in English between January 2000 and April 2023. Our final sample consisted of 96 studies that reported effect sizes or data to calculate them (a total of 120 unique samples, 83,260 participants, age range = 7.3 – 34.8 years). Risk of bias and sensitivity were assessed. A random-effects model analysis revealed a significant and moderate overall effect size (Hedge's g = -.54), indicating that individuals with RD, MD or ULD experience more internalizing problems than their chronological-age (CA) controls. Follow-up analyses showed that neither learning difficulties type nor age of participants were significant moderators, but selection criteria (diagnosis versus screening) and internalizing problems type were. These findings suggest that individuals with RD do not differ from those with MD or ULD in internalizing problems, and all fare poorly compared to CA controls.
Keywords
Anxiety, Depression, Internalizing problems, Learning difficulties, Meta-analysis
Date
2023
Type
Journal article
Journal
Annals of Dyslexia
Book
Volume
74
Issue
Page Range
4-26
Article Number
ACU Department
Faculty of Education and Arts
Collections
Relation URI
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled
Notes
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The International Dyslexia Association 2023.