Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Behavioral Problems in 7-12 Years Old Children with Specific Learning (Disorders Reading, Writing and Mathematics Deficits)

The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive emotion regulation and behavioral problems in children with specific learning disorders (reading, writing and mathematics deficits).

This causal-comparative study was conducted, among the statistical population of primary school boys (7-12 years old) from 2015 to 2017 in Hamadan and Arak; of which 120 children (30 with math learning disorder, 30 with reading disorder, 30 with Writing disorder and 30 children without any learning disability were selected through purposeful sampling and considering inclusion criteria for entering and leaving the study. The Reading Disorders List, Iran Kaymat's Math Test, Dyslexia writing disorder test, Conner's Behavioral Problem Questionnaire, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for children were used to assess the participants.

It was revealed that all the three the group had learning disorders comparing to the normal group, with a significant difference between the lesser number of positive emotion regulation strategies and the higher rate of negative emotional regulation strategies and behavioral problems. Also reading disorder groups was significantly different from the two groups of math and writing disorders and was highly associated with most of the negative emotional strategies and behavioral problems.

The findings of this study provide evidence of emotional and behavioral adjustment problems in students with learning disorders. Therefore, psychological interventions should be considered to improve and correct the behavioral problems and emotion regulation of these children.