Developmental Psychology, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
Department of Psychology and Human Development, Institute of Education, University College London, United Kingdom.
J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2018 Aug 8;61(8):2028-2044. doi: 10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-17-0429.
Victimization is a common problem for many children but is exacerbated for children with a developmental language disorder (DLD). However, the severity of communication problems does not explain their victimization rates. In children without DLD, difficulties with emotional competence are a risk factor for victimization and also increase the risk of bullying. In this longitudinal study, we examined the extent to which the level and development of emotional competence (understanding of one's own emotions and levels of anger, sadness, and fear) contributed to the prediction of victimization and bullying in children with and without DLD, over and above the type and severity of communication problems of children with DLD.
Clinically referred youngsters (8-16 years old) with (n = 112; 48% girls, 52% boys) and without (n = 233; 58% girls, 42% boys) DLD completed self-reports 3 times over an 18-month period. Parents of children with DLD reported on their children's communication problems.
Participants with DLD reported more victimization but comparable levels of bullying behavior compared with peers without DLD. Higher levels of sadness and fear were risk factors for more victimization in both groups. Better understanding of one's own emotions had a larger effect on less victimization in children with DLD, independent of their communication problems. In addition, increased levels of anger and lower levels of understanding of one's own emotions explained more bullying in both groups.
Outcomes indicate that secondary difficulties in emotional competence in children with DLD make these children more vulnerable to victimization and warrant specific support and interventions.
受害是许多儿童普遍存在的问题，但对于有发育性语言障碍（DLD）的儿童来说更为严重。然而，沟通问题的严重程度并不能解释他们受害的比率。在没有 DLD 的儿童中，情绪能力的困难是受害的一个风险因素，也增加了被欺凌的风险。在这项纵向研究中，我们研究了情绪能力（理解自己的情绪以及愤怒、悲伤和恐惧的程度）的水平和发展在多大程度上有助于预测有和没有 DLD 的儿童的受害和欺凌，超出了 DLD 儿童沟通问题的类型和严重程度。
临床转介的青少年（8-16 岁）有（n=112；48%女孩，52%男孩）和没有（n=233；58%女孩，42%男孩）DLD 完成了 3 次自我报告，时间跨度为 18 个月。DLD 儿童的父母报告了他们孩子的沟通问题。
有 DLD 的参与者报告了更多的受害，但与没有 DLD 的同龄人相比，他们的欺凌行为水平相当。较高的悲伤和恐惧水平是两组参与者受害更多的风险因素。更好地理解自己的情绪对 DLD 儿童受害较少有更大的影响，而与他们的沟通问题无关。此外，愤怒水平的增加和对自己情绪的理解程度的降低解释了两组参与者更多的欺凌行为。
研究结果表明，DLD 儿童在情绪能力方面的次要困难使这些儿童更容易受害，需要特别的支持和干预。
