(PS1-C57) Coping, Cognitive Styles and Psychological Dysfunction: Adults with and Without Learning Disabilities

Many studies have focused on learning disabilities (LD) from the perspective of children and adolescents who have received this diagnosis, for example focusing on academic challenges, self-esteem, and relations with peers. However, little research has been published about adults with LD. Similarly, the association between LD and psychological dysfunction has been well established, and researchers have now turned their attention to understanding the correlates of psychological outcomes. Such inquiry is another goal of the current research with intentions of studying both coping and cognitive styles together.

Participants, who were recruited online, were 220 adults with LD (M age = 24.65; SD = 2.99) and 185 adults without LD (M age = 24.49; SD = 3.06). Inclusion criteria were: (a) age ranging from 18 to 29, (b) having resided with at least one parent or caregiver (for example, stepparent) who is still alive for a minimum of 50% of one’s life before the age of 18, (c) being fluent in the English language, and (d) residing in the United States. Participants completed self-report measures of coping strategies (problem-solving, seeking social support, avoidance), cognitive styles (enhancing, negative), and psychological dysfunction (depression, dysphoria, social anxiety, panic, traumatic intrusion).

Contrary to expectation, problem-solving and seeking social support were unrelated to enhancing cognitive style in the LD group. However, the positive coping variables of problem-solving and seeking social support were positively related to enhancing cognitive style in the non-LD group. It should be noted, the variables had weak to moderate associations with each other. Consistent with this finding, as hypothesized, the negative coping variable of avoidance was positively related to negative cognitive style, in both groups. These correlations were of moderate magnitude.

As predicted, for participants with LD, about half the correlations between problem-solving and the variables representing psychological dysfunction were significant and negative. All of these associations were weak. Contrary to these findings, inconsistent with the hypothesis, the correlation between seeking social support and traumatic intrusions was positive rather than negative in the LD group. As expected, the negative coping variable of avoidance was positively associated with all variables measuring psychological dysfunction, in both groups.

Contrary to prediction, enhancing cognitive style was unrelated to psychological dysfunction, in both groups. As hypothesized, for respondents with and without LD, negative cognitive style was positively associated with all variables measuring psychological dysfunction, and the strength of these correlations tended to be moderate.

The present study also had limitations. This research used a correlational design, and therefore a cause-effect relationship should not be assumed. With that said, the design was also cross-sectional in nature, and extraneous variables other than LD status were not accounted for in this research. Future research might include whether or not participants were currently in psychotherapy/counseling for mental health issues and/or taking medications to treat a mental illness.