Depression And Anxiety In Children And Adolescents With Learning Disabilities, Conduct Disorders, And No Disabilities

Abstract

Depression and anxiety levels in three groups of children and adolescents, those with learning disabilities (LD), with conduct disorders (CD), and with no disabilities (ND), were measured with the student self-report scale and teacher rating scale of the Depression and Anxiety in Youth Scale. Results revealed highest self-ratings and teacher ratings in both depression and anxiety for the group with CD. Students with LD did not self-rate as more depressed and anxious than children without disabilities but were rated higher in depression by their teachers. Self-rating did not reveal, as teachers' ratings did, a progressive increase in anxiety and depression with age. Females self-rated higher than males in depression and anxiety; however, teachers rated males as more depressed and anxious than females. Special education teachers of students with CD and those with LD were more accurate than general educators in identifying students who self-rated as significantly depressed and/or anxious.