Psychological wellbeing trajectories of individuals with dyslexia aged 3 - 11 years

Dyslexia has been associated with a range of psychological wellbeing issues in childhood. However, it is unclear if these difficulties stem from coping with academic struggles at school, or from other pre-existing diagnoses that sometimes co-occur with dyslexia. Using UK Millennium Cohort Study data (n=7,224) from 2003-2011, the present study compared psychological wellbeing development from ages 3-11years for children with 1) dyslexia only; 2) special educational needs excluding dyslexia; 3) comorbid dyslexia and other special educational needs; and 4) no special educational needs. Growth curve modelling results controlling for race, gender, age and family income suggested that with the exception of conduct difficulties, psychological wellbeing issues related to dyslexia do not occur preschool, rather they commence upon starting school.