Psychopathology among Emerging Adults with Learning Disabilities in Canada

Samantha L. Chown, Dillon T. Browne, Scott T. Leatherdale and Mark A. Ferro ()
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Samantha L. Chown: School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Dillon T. Browne: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Scott T. Leatherdale: School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Mark A. Ferro: School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

Disabilities, 2022, vol. 2, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Individuals with learning disabilities (LDs) are more likely to have a mental illness, yet few studies explore this association in emerging adulthood, a developmental period with an increased risk for mental illness. The purpose of the current study was to investigate psychological distress in emerging adults (15–29 years) with and without LDs. The 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey—Mental Health was used (n = 5630), and multiple and logistic regression models with survey weights were computed. Adjusting for demographic, psychosocial, and health covariates, there was no evidence for significant differences in psychological distress among emerging adults with vs. without LDs. However, age and sex were significant effect modifiers. Among emerging adults with LDs, both males (OR = 2.39 [1.01, 5.67]) and those aged 25–29 years (OR = 3.87 [1.05, 14.30]) had an increased odds of clinically relevant psychological distress in comparison to those without LDs. These findings suggest a need for improved awareness and support for prevention of psychological distress among emerging adults with LDs, especially for males and those in later emerging adulthood.

Keywords: learning disability; psychological distress; mental health; emerging adulthood; Canadian Community Health Survey; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; epidemiology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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