Does Childhood Reading Disability or Its Continuance Into Adulthood Underlie Problems in Adult-Age Psychosocial Well-Being? A Follow-Up Study

ABSTRACT

This follow-up study aimed at a better understanding of the associations of reading disability (RD) with adult-age psychosocial well-being. We compared adult-age psychosocial well-being in 48 individuals (20–39 years) with documented childhood RD but without comorbid disabilities to 37 matched controls. The associations of psychosocial well-being with childhood and adult-age reading fluency were studied in the RD group, controlling for IQ, gender and unemployment. Psychosocial well-being was assessed with commonly used self-report questionnaires. No group differences were found in psychosocial well-being. In the RD group, lower adult-age reading fluency was associated with symptoms of depression, lower self-esteem, and social functioning. Severity of childhood RD was not associated with psychosocial well-being. Thus, reading fluency problems continuing into adulthood appear to be related to adult-age psychosocial well-being. A more holistic approach to studying how RD impacts adult-age well-being is needed, including both the individual’s developmental history and current functioning in various domains.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all the research assistants and staff at the Clinic for Learning Disabilities who contributed to the data collection and to the study participants who generously gave their time to help with the research.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.