Family Dynamics and Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Children With Spelling Difficulties

Abstract

The present study aims to examine the correlation between students' performance on a family dynamics test and specific socio-demographic characteristics. The sample consisted of 225 children: 111 (49.3%) boys and 114 (50.7%) girls, with a mean age of 11.5 years. For data collection, the following were used: 1) A Self-administered Socio-demographic Questionnaire, 2) The Zachos Dictation Writing Test (DWT) and 3) The Family Dynamics Measure II Questionnaire (FDM II). The findings of the study indicated that most of the children produced a high number of spelling errors. They were found to have high scores on five of the six family dynamics dimensions, except for one. Statistical differences were found in four family dynamics dimensions in relation to demographic characteristics: Children's and parents' satisfaction with school performance, perceived difficulties in spelling, essay writing, arithmetic, oral and written tests, and leisure time utilization.