Relationships between Reading Ability and Child Mental Health: Moderating Effects of Self‐Esteem

Abstract

Objective

Children with reading difficulties are at elevated risk for externalising (e.g., conduct disorder) and internalising (e.g., anxiety and depression) mental health problems. Reading ability is also negatively associated with self‐esteem, a consistent predictor of child and adolescent mental health more broadly. This study examined whether self‐esteem moderated and/or mediated relationships between reading ability and mental health.

Method

One hundred and seventeen children (7–12 years) completed standardised reading assessments (Castles and Coltheart Test 2; CC2) and self‐report measures of mental health (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; SDQ) and self‐esteem (Coopersmith Self‐esteem Inventory). Non‐verbal intelligence (IQ) was measured using the block design and matrix reasoning subscales of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, and was controlled for in all multivariate analyses.

Results

Reading ability was negatively associated with internalising symptoms. This relationship was not moderated by self‐esteem. Poor readers also reported more total difficulties and externalising symptoms, but only at low levels of self‐esteem. There was no evidence that self‐esteem mediated relationships between reading ability and mental health.

Conclusions

Poor reading was associated with internalising symptoms. Self‐esteem moderated the impact of reading ability on total difficulties and externalising symptoms, with high self‐esteem buffering against negative impacts of poor reading. However, the reliability of the self‐esteem scale used in the study was poor and findings need replication using a reliable and valid self‐esteem measure, as well as other measures of child mental health. If replicated, future research should examine whether interventions aiming to improve self‐esteem can reduce the risk of externalising problems in children with reading difficulties.

Key words:

• children
• externalising
• internalising
• mental health
• reading
• self‐esteem

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all volunteers who contributed to data collection. The research was supported by the following grants: Macquarie University Research Development Grants [9201200286, 9201200323], ARC Discovery Project Grant [DP0985138], Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders [CE110001021], and a grant from the Research and Development Committee of the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University.