Abstract

Language problems are a risk factor for externalizing problems, but the developmental path remains unclear. Emotional competence may mediate the relationship, especially when externalizing problems are reactive in nature, such as in Oppositional Deviant Disorder (ODD) and reactive aggression. We examined the development of reactive and proactive externalizing problems in children with (n = 98) and without (n = 156) Developmental Language Disorder (DLD; age: 8–16 years) over 18 months. Relationships with communicative risk factors (structural, pragmatic and emotion communication) and the mediating role of emotional competence (emotion recognition and anger dysregulation) were examined. Multi-level analyses showed that increasing emotion recognition and decreasing anger dysregulation were longitudinally related to decreasing ODD symptoms in both groups, whereas anger dysregulation was related to more reactive aggression in children with DLD alone. Pragmatic and emotion communication problems were related to more reactive externalizing problems, but these relationships were mediated by emotional competence, suggesting that problems in emotional competence explain the communication problems of children with DLD. Therefore, in addition to interventions for communication skills, there is a need to address the emotional competence of children with DLD, as this decreases the risk for reactive externalizing problems.

Highlights

  • Two children in every classroom experience significant language problems that are not explained by other disorders [1]

  • Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) had a lower Performance IQ (PIQ) than their peers without

  • The results showed that more communication problems were related to lower levels of emotion recognition, which in turn related to higher levels of Oppositional Deviant Disorder (ODD) symptoms in children with and without DLD

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Summary

Introduction

Two children in every classroom experience significant language problems that are not explained by other disorders [1]. These children are eligible for a diagnosis of developmental language disorder (DLD) [2]. Children with DLD experience difficulties expressing their own thoughts and wishes through language, and often have misunderstandings with others. These communication problems may cause frustration and have negative affect, resulting in externalizing behavior problems, such as aggression or oppositional behavior. Higher levels of externalizing problems have been found in children with DLD [3,4,5,6]. Language problems have a direct effect on the development of externalizing problems [7], but may impede the development of emotional

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