Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds.
Children and adolescents with delayed or disordered language development are at increased risk of a number of negative outcomes, including social and emotional problems and mental health difficulties. Yet, in low- and middle- income countries, where risk factors for compromised language development...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2019-01-01
|
Series: | PLoS ONE |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0221242 |
id |
doaj-cee70a02013d499392f06b512705c893 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-cee70a02013d499392f06b512705c8932021-03-04T12:43:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032019-01-01149e022124210.1371/journal.pone.0221242Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds.Michelle C St ClairSarah SkeenMarguerite MarlowMark TomlinsonChildren and adolescents with delayed or disordered language development are at increased risk of a number of negative outcomes, including social and emotional problems and mental health difficulties. Yet, in low- and middle- income countries, where risk factors for compromised language development are known to be prevalent, there is a lack of research on the association between child and adolescent language ability and mental health outcomes. This study evaluates data from a cross-sectional study in Khayelitsha, a semi-urban impoverished community near Cape Town, South Africa. To measure language ability, behaviour and mental health, adolescents aged 13 (n = 200) were assessed using the Riddles subtest of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children Version 2, the parent report Child Behaviour Checklist, and the self-report Moods and Feelings Questionnaire and the Self-Esteem Questionnaire. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to determine associations between language skills, self-esteem and mental health in this group of adolescents. Poor language ability was related to a range of concurrent adverse difficulties, such as attention deficits, self-esteem problems, social withdrawal, and depressive symptoms. Increased levels of language ability were related to better psychosocial profiles. In some cases, only individuals with a low level of language (bottom 10% of sample) were at increased risk of maladaptive outcomes. This study replicates the well-established relationship between language ability and poorer mental health found within high income countries in an upper middle-income country setting. Locally accessible support for children with reduced language ability is required, given the longer-term consequences of poorer mental health.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0221242 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Michelle C St Clair Sarah Skeen Marguerite Marlow Mark Tomlinson |
spellingShingle |
Michelle C St Clair Sarah Skeen Marguerite Marlow Mark Tomlinson Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Michelle C St Clair Sarah Skeen Marguerite Marlow Mark Tomlinson |
author_sort |
Michelle C St Clair |
title |
Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds. |
title_short |
Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds. |
title_full |
Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds. |
title_fullStr |
Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a South African sample of 13-year-olds. |
title_sort |
relationships between concurrent language ability and mental health outcomes in a south african sample of 13-year-olds. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2019-01-01 |
description |
Children and adolescents with delayed or disordered language development are at increased risk of a number of negative outcomes, including social and emotional problems and mental health difficulties. Yet, in low- and middle- income countries, where risk factors for compromised language development are known to be prevalent, there is a lack of research on the association between child and adolescent language ability and mental health outcomes. This study evaluates data from a cross-sectional study in Khayelitsha, a semi-urban impoverished community near Cape Town, South Africa. To measure language ability, behaviour and mental health, adolescents aged 13 (n = 200) were assessed using the Riddles subtest of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children Version 2, the parent report Child Behaviour Checklist, and the self-report Moods and Feelings Questionnaire and the Self-Esteem Questionnaire. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to determine associations between language skills, self-esteem and mental health in this group of adolescents. Poor language ability was related to a range of concurrent adverse difficulties, such as attention deficits, self-esteem problems, social withdrawal, and depressive symptoms. Increased levels of language ability were related to better psychosocial profiles. In some cases, only individuals with a low level of language (bottom 10% of sample) were at increased risk of maladaptive outcomes. This study replicates the well-established relationship between language ability and poorer mental health found within high income countries in an upper middle-income country setting. Locally accessible support for children with reduced language ability is required, given the longer-term consequences of poorer mental health. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0221242 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT michellecstclair relationshipsbetweenconcurrentlanguageabilityandmentalhealthoutcomesinasouthafricansampleof13yearolds AT sarahskeen relationshipsbetweenconcurrentlanguageabilityandmentalhealthoutcomesinasouthafricansampleof13yearolds AT margueritemarlow relationshipsbetweenconcurrentlanguageabilityandmentalhealthoutcomesinasouthafricansampleof13yearolds AT marktomlinson relationshipsbetweenconcurrentlanguageabilityandmentalhealthoutcomesinasouthafricansampleof13yearolds |
_version_ |
1714801835615715328 |