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Longitudinal trajectories of peer relations in children with specific language impairment
Author(s) -
Mok Pearl L. H.,
Pickles Andrew,
Durkin Kevin,
ContiRamsden Gina
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/jcpp.12190
Subject(s) - psychology , specific language impairment , developmental psychology , language impairment , longitudinal study , peer relations , social relation , peer group , cognitive psychology , social psychology , statistics , mathematics
Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusions 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.