Self-Esteem in Children With Specific Language Impairment

Abstract

The purpose of this preliminary study was to probe the self-perceptions of a group of children with specific language impairment (SLI) and their typically developing peers. A measure of self-esteem was administered to 46 children between the ages of 6 and 9 years old and 34 children between the ages 10 and 13. In the younger group, there were no statistically significant differences between children with SLI and typically developing children in the way they perceived themselves across domains of competence and acceptance. In the older group, children with SLI perceived themselves more negatively in scholastic competence, social acceptance, and behavioral conduct than did children with typical language development. Differences were evident in areas that were most affected by language impairment.

Self-Esteem, Shyness, and Sociability in Adolescents With Specific Language Impairment (SLI)

“…Other SLI studies have examined domain-specific self-esteem, thus complicating the picture. Studies of younger children (6 to 9 years) with SLI have not found evidence of lower domainspecific self-esteem in these children when compared to typically developing peers Self-esteem, shyness and sociability 24 (Jerome et al, 2002;Lindsay et al, 2002). On the other hand, Marton et al (2005) found that 7-to 10-year-olds did have lower social self-esteem scores (using a different scale) than age-matched peers.…”

“…However, one study did find lower social Self-esteem, shyness and sociability 5 self-esteem in 7-to 10-year-olds with SLI (N = 19), when compared with agematched controls, and this difference was large (d = 0.9) (Marton, Abramoff, & Rosenzweig, 2005). Generally, older children with SLI (10-to13-year-olds) have been found to have significantly lower domain-specific self-esteem scores compared with typically developing peers, particularly in the academic and social domains (Jerome et al, 2002;Lindsay, Dockrell, Letchford, & Mackie, 2002). Jerome et al (2002) argued that young children with SLI may have adequate self-esteem because they are unaware of their academic and social failings.…”

“…Generally, older children with SLI (10-to13-year-olds) have been found to have significantly lower domain-specific self-esteem scores compared with typically developing peers, particularly in the academic and social domains (Jerome et al, 2002;Lindsay, Dockrell, Letchford, & Mackie, 2002). Jerome et al (2002) argued that young children with SLI may have adequate self-esteem because they are unaware of their academic and social failings. Lower self-esteem may emerge as children with SLI get older, face new difficulties and become increasingly aware of their own limitations.…”

“…To an extent, findings from these studies vary across age groups. Researchers have found younger children with SLI (6-to 9-year-olds) to have positive self-perceptions comparable to typically developing peers on Harter's multidimensional self-esteem measures (Jerome, Fujiki, Brinton, & James, 2002;Lindsay & Dockrell, 2000). However, one study did find lower social Self-esteem, shyness and sociability 5 self-esteem in 7-to 10-year-olds with SLI (N = 19), when compared with agematched controls, and this difference was large (d = 0.9) (Marton, Abramoff, & Rosenzweig, 2005).…”

Social stress in young people with specific language impairment

“…There is evidence, however, that older children with SLI (10 to 13 years) have poorer perceived social acceptance compared to typically developing peers (Jerome et al, 2002;Lindsay, Dockrell, Letchford, & Mackie, 2002). Dockrell, Lindsay, Palikara and Cullen (2007) found that from 8 to 17 years of age, young people with SLI had Social stress 7 lower social self-perceptions compared to US norms using the Harter scales.…”