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Psychiatric Comorbidity in Learning Disorder: Analysis of Family Variables

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the role of parental relational styles on the development of psychopathological disturbances in children with Learning Disability (LD).

Method

Fifty-six children aged 7–12 diagnosed with LD were evaluated on the basis of the Children Behaviour Check List (CBCL) completed by parents. Parents completed an Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and a family relationships internal representations questionnaire (Family Attitudes Questionnaire, FAQ). Multiple regressions were performed, using parental FAQ and ASQ scores as predictors and children’s CBCL scores as criterion

Results

Sixty percent of children in the sample obtained a clinical score in at least one of the two syndrome groups. Internalizing behavior in children was predicted by father’s Relationships as Secondary and mother’s Need for Approval and Preoccupation with Relationships scores. Externalizing behavior was predicted by both father and mother’s Need for Approval scores.

Conclusions

Insecure attachment styles in parents appeared associated with maladaptive emotional–behavioral strategies in their children and may be interpreted as a risk factor for the development of the latter. More specifically, internalizing behavior in children appeared associated with dimensions pointing to dismissing attachment in fathers and to preoccupied attachment in mothers, while externalizing behavior appeared associated with dimensions indicating preoccupied attachment in both parents. Possible interpretations of these data within the LD population are put forward.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Dr. Riccardo Williams and Dr. Frank Amodeo for their careful language revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Flavia Capozzi, Maria Pia Casini & Maria Romani

  2. Department of Psychology, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Luigi De Gennaro & Giampaolo Nicolais

  3. Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology 1, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Luigi Solano

Authors
  1. Flavia Capozzi
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  2. Maria Pia Casini
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  3. Maria Romani
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  4. Luigi De Gennaro
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  5. Giampaolo Nicolais
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  6. Luigi Solano
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Correspondence to Flavia Capozzi.

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Capozzi, F., Casini, M.P., Romani, M. et al. Psychiatric Comorbidity in Learning Disorder: Analysis of Family Variables. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 39, 101–110 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-007-0074-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-007-0074-5

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