Rule-breaking Behavior Research Articles

Developmental Trajectories of Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Youth and Associated Gender Differences: A Directed Network Perspective.

Psychopathology in youth is highly prevalent and associated with psychopathology in adulthood. However, the developmental trajectories of psychopathology symptoms, including potential gender differences, are markedly underspecified. The present study employed a directed network approach to investigate longitudinal relationships and gender differences among eight transdiagnostic symptom domains across three years, in a homogenous age sample of youth participants (n = 6,414; mean baseline age = 10.0years; 78.6% White; Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study). Anxious/depressed problems and aggressive behaviors were central symptoms and most predictive of increases in other symptom clusters at later timepoints. Rule-breaking behaviors, aggressive behaviors, and withdrawn/depressed problems emerged as bridge symptoms between externalizing and internalizing problems. Results supported cascade models in which externalizing problems predicted future internalizing problems, but internalizing problems also significantly predicted future externalizing problems, which is contrary to cascade models. Network structure, symptom centrality, and patterns of bridge symptoms differed between female and male participants, suggesting gender differences in the developmental trajectories of youth psychopathology. Results provide new insights into symptom trajectories and associated gender differences that may provide promising pathways for understanding disorder (dis)continuity and co-occurrence. The central and bridge symptoms identified here may have important implications for screening and early intervention for youth psychopathology.

Some Rules are Meant to be Broken: Individual Differences and Rule-Breaking Behavior

Some Rules are Meant to be Broken: Individual Differences and Rule-Breaking Behavior

PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND THE PROPENSITY FOR LAW-BREAKING: A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE

Autism is a subtype of neuro-developmental disorders, that causes the afflicted person to have social skills deficit, which then manifests into their behaviours. Behaviours that are typical among persons with autism, such as obsessions with daily routine, difficulties in understanding abstract matters and codes of conduct may expose them to engage in indecent acts in public or exhibit other forms of risky behaviours that violate social norms and break the law. The objective of this research is to study the behaviour of persons with autism who tend to break the law based on the perspective of teachers at autism centres in Malaysia. Data were collected through focus group discussion (FGD) with 25 special education teachers who were directly involved in the process of early intervention and education of children with autism. Data obtained were then analyzed descriptively and thematic analysis was conducted to obtain the recurring themes. Results of FGD demonstrated that the frequently emerging themes of rule-breaking behaviors committed by persons with autism are physically hurting others, setting buildings on fire (arson), vandalism of public property, theft, sexual and cyber offences which are considered criminal acts under the Penal Code and the Shariah Criminal Offences State Enactment/Act. Most research participants, however, considered these behaviors to be part of the individual with autism behavior and thus do not consider them serious enough to report to law enforcement for investigation and prosecution. Thus, it is recommended that teachers, parents, and caretakers be more attentive to preventing high-risk behavior of persons with autism through ongoing early intervention programs tailored to meet the needs of persons with autism. Research findings can help society tobetter understand autistic behavior that needs timely intervention, so it will not lead to an investigation by the police or criminal prosecution.

Maternal psychological control and adolescent adjustment: Sleep as a moderator.

Maternal psychological control has been linked consistently to poorer adjustment for adolescents, however, studies of variability in the association between psychological control and adjustment are rare. Sleep serves crucial bioregulatory functions that promote well-being and protect youths against poor adjustment associated with negative family environments. We hypothesised that the link between maternal psychological control and adolescent maladjustment would be strongest for youths with poorer actigraphy-based sleep. The current study included 245 adolescents (Mage = 15.79 years, 52.2% girls, 33.1% Black/African American and 66.9% White/European American; 43% at or below the poverty line). Adolescents reported on their mothers' psychological control toward them, as well as their internalising and externalising symptoms (aggressive and rule breaking behaviours). Several sleep variables were derived: minutes, onset time, and variability in each parameter over 1 week. For youths with shorter, less consistent sleep (both mean levels and variability in minutes and onset), maternal psychological control was associated with adjustment difficulties, especially externalising symptoms. This association was not significant for youth obtaining longer, more consistent sleep. The results were most evident for variability in sleep minutes and onset as moderators of effects. The findings suggest that longer and more consistent sleep is an important protective factor in the context of more controlling parenting.

Teacher–student relationships, stress, and psychosocial functioning during early adolescence

AbstractEarly adolescence is a time of increased stress and risk for poorer psychosocial functioning, but few studies have explored the relationship between stress and psychosocial functioning in the context of teacher–student relationships during early adolescence. This study used a two‐wave longitudinal design to investigate the unique and interactive effects of stress and teacher–student relationships on anxiety/depression, aggression, and rule‐breaking behaviors. The sample included 288 sixth‐ and seventh‐grade students (Mage = 12.01; 54% females; 47% Black, 36% White, 9% Hispanic) and their parents and teachers. Student‐perceived stress and teacher‐reported teacher–student conflict were related to more aggressive and rule breaking behaviors at Wave 1; perceived stress also predicted more anxiety/depression symptoms at Wave 1. Further, teacher‐reported teacher–student closeness predicted less aggressive behaviors over time. The findings suggest that interventions that promote stress management and positive teacher–student relationships may reduce adjustment problems concurrently and over time among early adolescents.

Adolescents’ Social Goal Orientations

Abstract: The current study examined the association between adolescents’ social goal orientations (i. e., what they want to achieve or avoid in social interactions with their peers) and their externalizing and prosocial behaviors as well as associations with parenting styles. Adolescents and their parents completed the questionnaires. Based on a path model with the data of 354 adolescents ( Mage = 14.11) and 121 parents from Germany, we found that (1) parental warmth had a direct effect on agentic goals (i. e., desire for authority, power, and appearing confident), (2) parental coercion had a direct effect on communal goals (i. e., desire for affiliation and closeness), (3) agentic goals had a direct effect on prosocial, rule-breaking, and aggressive behavior, and (4) communal goals had a direct effect on prosocial and aggressive behavior. In the discussion, we reflect on how the theoretical and practical significance of social goal orientations can guide future research.

Effectiveness of an Educational Filmmaking Project in Promoting the Psychological Well-Being of Adolescents with Emotive/Behavioural Problems.

Evidence suggests that adolescents respond positively to simple, early interventions, including psychosocial support and educational interventions, even when offered in non-clinical settings. Cinematherapy can help manage life challenges, develop new skills, increase awareness, and offer new ways of thinking about specific problems. This pilot trial was conducted in Italy, aiming to investigate the effects of a six-week filmmaking course on the psychological well-being of adolescents (N = 52) with emotional/behavioural problems and neurodevelopmental disorders. At the end of the project, most participants showed improvements mostly in social skills, such as social cognition (p = 0.049), communication (p = 0.009), and motivation (p = 0.03), detected using the SRS Social Responsiveness Scale. In addition, social awareness (p = 0.001) increased in all patients. Statistically significant differences resulted in four sub-scales of Youth Self-Report Scale: withdrawn/depressed (p = 0.007), social problems (p = 0.003), thought problems (p < 0.001), and rule-breaking behaviour (p = 0.03); these results showed a decrease in emotional and behavioural problems. This study is an innovative therapeutic and educational approach based on the filmmaking art. This research can offer an empirical basis for the effectiveness of alternative therapeutic tools in child and adolescent psychiatric disorders. At the same time, it can be replicated in broader contexts (e.g., school and communities) to promote children's psychological well-being.

Polygenic Effects on Individual Rule Breaking, Peer Rule Breaking, and Alcohol Sips Across Early Adolescence in the ABCD Study.

Alcohol use emerges during early adolescence and is strongly associated with individual and peer risky, delinquent, and rule breaking behaviors. Genetic predisposition for risky behavior contributes to individual rule breaking in adolescence and can also evoke peer rule breaking or lead youth to select into delinquent peer groups via gene-environment correlations (rGE), collectively increasing risk for alcohol use. Little research has examined whether genetic predisposition for risky behavior contributes to individual and peer rule breaking behavior in developmental pathways to alcohol use in early adolescence or in large diverse racial/ethnic populations. To address this, polygenic scores for risky behavior were considered predictors of individual rule breaking, peer rule breaking, and alcohol sips using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study at age 11-12 and 12-13 in a cross-time cross-lagged model. This was examined separately in European American (EA; n = 5113; 47% female), African American (AA; n = 1159; 50% female), and Hispanic/Latinx (Latinx; n = 1624; 48% female) subgroups accounting for sociodemographic covariates and genetic ancestry principal components. Polygenic scores were positively associated with all constructs in EAs, with individual rule breaking at age 11-12 in AAs and Latinx, and with alcohol sips at age 11-12 in Latinx. Individual and peer rule breaking were associated with one another across time only in the EA subgroup. In all subgroups, peer rule breaking at 12-13 was associated with alcohol sips at 12-13. Results indicate that alcohol sips in early adolescence are associated with individual and peer rule breaking with rGE implicated in EAs.

Latent profiles of substance use, early life stress, and attention/externalizing problems and their association with neural correlates of reinforcement learning in adolescents.

Adolescent substance use, externalizing and attention problems, and early life stress (ELS) commonly co-occur. These psychopathologies show overlapping neural dysfunction in the form of reduced recruitment of reward processing neuro-circuitries. However, it is unclear to what extent these psychopathologies show common v. different neural dysfunctions as a function of symptom profiles, as no studies have directly compared neural dysfunctions associated with each of these psychopathologies to each other. In study 1, a latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted in a sample of 266 adolescents (aged 13-18, 41.7% female, 58.3% male) from a residential youth care facility and the surrounding community to investigate substance use, externalizing and attention problems, and ELS psychopathologies and their co-presentation. In study 2, we examined a subsample of 174 participants who completed the Passive Avoidance learning task during functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine differential and/or common reward processing neuro-circuitry dysfunctions associated with symptom profiles based on these co-presentations. In study 1, LPA identified profiles of substance use plus rule-breaking behaviors, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and ELS. In study 2, the substance use/rule-breaking profile was associated with reduced recruitment of reward processing and attentional neuro-circuitries during the Passive Avoidance task (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons). Findings indicate that there is reduced responsivity of striato-cortical regions when receiving outcomes on an instrumental learning task within a profile of adolescents with substance use and rule-breaking behaviors. Mitigating reward processing dysfunction specifically may represent a potential intervention target for substance-use psychopathologies accompanied by rule-breaking behaviors.

EXTERNALISING BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS IN ADOLESCENCE PREDICTED BY PARENTAL MONITORING, PRACTICES AND ATTACHMENT: EXPLORING THE MODERATING ROLE OF GENDER

Research suggests the differences between parenting boys and girls related to externalising behaviour problems. Self-reported measures were used on a sample of 507 Belgrade secondary school students (42.1% male) to examine the moderating effect of gender on the relationship of parental monitoring (the Scale of Parental Monitoring), parental attachment (the Inventory of Parents and Peer Attachment, IPPA), and parental practice (the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire) with externalising problems (aggressive and rule-breaking behaviour) (ASEBA, YSR). The research results show gender differences in rule-breaking behaviour, externalising problems and some parenting variables. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed significant predictors of aggressive behaviour, rule-breaking behaviour and externalising problems, whereby poor monitoring displayed the strongest relations with all of the criteria. The moderating effect of gender was identified in explaining the links between communication with the mother, positive parenting and trust in the father with rule-breaking behaviour. The research results were discussed in the context of the protective relationship in the father-son and mother-daughter dyads for rule-breaking behaviour. The practical implications of differentiation between the relevance of mothers’ and fathers’ parenting for adolescent adjustment in terms of gender are provided. Key words parenting, externalising problems, gender

The Effects of Gardening on University Campus on Problem Behaviors of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Background and objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect that a gardening program based on a garden created on a university campus has on problem behaviors of children with developmental disabilities.Methods: The participants were 13 children with developmental disabilities (10 male and 3 female) with an average age of 10.5 years. The study was conducted from August 21 to November 27, 2021 by implementing a gardening program with total 30 sessions held twice a week. The research sites were three types of spaces created for children with developmental disabilities on D University campus: the healing garden, forest trail, and cherry road. Discrete Trial Training (DTT) was applied to the activities when implementing the gardening program, which was used as an intervention to reduce problem behaviors. The assessment tool was the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 6-18 (CBCL6-18) with which the parents and the primary caregivers assessed changes in problem behaviors.Results: Externalizing behaviors including aggressive behavior and rule-breaking behavior scored 9.9 before the program, 7.6 during the program, and 7.0 after the program (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; .01), and problem behaviors scored 39.3 before the program, 32.9 during the program, and 31.8 after the program (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; .05), showing a significant change.Conclusion: The gardening program on campus could reduce problem behaviors of children with developmental disabilities. Various activities in the garden are considered to have utility value as a social welfare service and education program.

Larger left hippocampal presubiculum is associated with lower risk of antisocial behavior in healthy adults with childhood conduct history

Conduct Disorder (CD) is defined as aggressive, antisocial, and rule-breaking behavior during childhood. It is a major risk factor for developing antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in adulthood. However, nearly half the CDs do not develop ASPD. Identification of reversion factors seems crucial for proper interventions. We identified 40 subjects with childhood history of CD (CC) and 1166 control subjects (HC) from Human Connectome Project. Their psychiatric, emotional, impulsivity, and personality traits were extracted. An emotion recognition task-fMRI analysis was done. We also did subregion analysis of hippocampus and amygdala in 35 CC and 69 demographically matched HCs. CC subjects scored significantly higher in antisocial-related evaluations. No differences in task-fMRI activation of amygdala and hippocampus were observed. CCs had larger subfields of the left hippocampus: presubiculum, CA3, CA4, and dentate gyrus. Further, an interaction model revealed a significant presubiculum volume × group association with antisocial, aggression, and agreeableness scores. Our study shows that healthy young adults with a prior history of CD still exhibit some forms of antisocial-like behavior with larger left hippocampal subfields, including presubiculum that also explains the variability in antisocial behavior. These larger left hippocampal subfield volumes may play a protective role against CD to ASPD conversion.

The Effect Paintball Game on Motor Performance, Neuropsychological and Behavioral Features Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: Poor motor skill performance can place children with ADHD at risk of developing a weak self-concept, high anxiety levels, and a poor social function. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of a moderate- to high-intensity paintball game program on fitness, cognitive functions, and ADHD-related behavior in children with ADHD. Method: A total of 21 participants (age in years: M = 9.1, SD = 1.1, ranging from 7 to 12) took part in the study. Measuring tools were included Fitness and Motor Tests Measures, Behavioral Measures, Neuropsychological Measures. Fitness level, motor skills, behaviors, and cognitive functions are assessed by standardized tests before and after a 10-week training or control period Results: Findings show that participation in a paintball game program (improves muscular capacities, motor skills, behavior reports by parents and teachers, and level of information processing. Posttest analysis revealed that with the exception of rule breaking behaviors, a tendency for improvements was reported by the teachers in the experimental group for all scales, but all differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Structured paintball game program may have clinical relevance in the functional adaptation of children with ADHD. This supports the need for further research in the area of physical activity with this population

Topic sensitivity still affects honest responding, even when specialized questioning techniques are used.

To develop more effective interventions, conservationists require robust information about the proportion of people who break conservation rules (such as those relating to protected species, or protected area legislation). Developed to obtain more accurate estimates of sensitive behaviors, including rule-breaking, specialized questioning techniques such as Randomized Response Techniques (RRTs) are increasingly applied in conservation, but with mixed evidence of their effectiveness. We use a forced-response RRT to estimate the prevalence of five rule-breaking behaviors in communities living around the Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem in Tanzania. Prevalence estimates obtained for all behaviors were negative or did not differ significantly from zero, suggesting the RRT did not work as expected and that respondents felt inadequately protected. To investigate, we carried out a second study to explore how topic sensitivity influenced respondents' propensity to follow RRT instructions. Results from this experimental study revealed respondents understood instructions well (~88% of responses were correct) but that propensity to follow RRT instructions was significantly influenced by the behavior asked about, and the type of answer they were required to provide. Our two studies highlight that even if RRTs are well understood by respondents, where topics are sensitive and respondents are wary of researchers, their use does not necessarily encourage more honest responding.

The gender gap in adolescents’ emotional and behavioural problems in Georgia: a cross-sectional study using Achenbach’s Youth Self Report

BackgroundAdolescents, particularly girls, are vulnerable to mental health disorders. Knowledge about young people’s mental health in Eastern European countries is limited. This study is the first to investigate adolescents’ self-reported emotional and behavioural problems in Georgia from a public mental health perspective.MethodsThis study utilized Achenbach’s Youth Self-Reported syndrome scales among 933 adolescents studying from grades 7–12 in 18 public schools in Georgia. We compared the gender-specific results with each other and with the Achenbach’s Normative Sample using two-sample t-tests. Linear regression was used to assess associations between internalizing and externalizing problems and individual as well as demographic characteristics such as parental migration experience (being ‘left-behind’ or ‘staying behind’).ResultsThe study found that girls obtained higher scores than boys in Youth Self-Reported empirical syndrome scales and the internalizing broadband scale. Rule-breaking behaviour was the only syndrome scale where boys scored higher. Compared to Achenbach’s Normative Sample, adolescents in Georgia scored higher on all scales. Regression analyses showed that illnesses, having fewer than three close friends, problems at school, and worse relationships with peers/siblings/parents (compared to peers) were associated with higher internalizing and externalizing problems scores in both genders. Performing household chores, living with only one parent, or having a migrant parent showed no associations in either gender.ConclusionEmotional and behavioural difficulties of adolescents in Georgia, especially girls, require attention. Having close friends, developing strong relationships with family members, and a supportive school environment could help mitigate emotional and behavioural problems among adolescents in Georgia.

Stability and disruptive speech

Stability and disruptive speech

Examining the clinical correlates of conduct disorder in youth with bipolar disorder

BackgroundConduct Disorder (CD) is highly comorbid with Bipolar Disorder (BP) and this comorbidity is associated with high morbidity and dysfunction. We sought to better understand the clinical characteristics and familiality of comorbid BP + CD by examining children with BP with and without co-morbid CD. Methods357 subjects with BP were derived from two independent datasets of youth with and without BP. All subjects were evaluated with structured diagnostic interviews, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and neuropsychological testing. We stratified the sample of subjects with BP by the presence or absence of CD and compared the two groups on measures of psychopathology, school functioning, and neurocognitive functioning. First-degree relatives of subjects with BP +/− CD were compared on rates of psychopathology in relatives. ResultsSubjects with BP + CD compared to BP without CD had significantly more impaired scores on the CBCL Aggressive Behavior (p < 0.001), Attention Problems (p = 0.002), Rule-Breaking Behavior (p < 0.001), Social Problems (p < 0.001), Withdrawn/Depressed clinical scales (p = 0.005), the Externalizing Problems (p < 0.001), and Total Problems composite scales(p < 0.001). Subjects with BP + CD had significantly higher rates of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) (p = 0.002), any SUD (p < 0.001), and cigarette smoking (p = 0.001). First-degree relatives of subjects with BP + CD had significantly higher rates of CD/ODD/ASPD and cigarette smoking compared to first-degree relatives of subjects without CD. LimitationsThe generalization of our findings was limited due to a largely homogeneous sample and no CD only comparison group. ConclusionsGiven the deleterious outcomes associated with comorbid BP + CD, further efforts in identification and treatment are necessary.

Association of behaviors and asthma control in a sample of Lebanese adolescents with asthma.

The relationship between behavioral problems and asthma is bidirectional; while the presence of a chronic disease such as asthma might predispose the person to stress, anxiety, and other behavioral issues, behavioral problems might in turn cause uncontrolled asthma through nonadherence to asthma management strategies. In Lebanon, behavioral problems and uncontrolled asthma could be of significant concern for adolescents. Consequently, we found it necessary to evaluate association between behavioral problems and uncontrolled asthma in a sample of Lebanese adolescents. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected using the snowball sampling technique in July 2023. The questionnaire was developed with Google Forms and distributed to participants via social media platforms and messaging applications. The Asthma Control Test (ACT) was used to check for uncontrolled asthma, and the Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale was used to assess behavioral problems. It yields nine subscales (anxious-depressed, withdrawn-depressed, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, rule-breaking behavior, aggressive behavior, and other problems) and a total score. When taking each behavior score as an independent variable, older age was associated with lower ACT scores (more controlled asthma); F(15, 186) = 3.66, P = 0.014, and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [-0.85, -0.10]. Living in a rural area, compared to urban was associated with higher ACT scores, P = 0.018, and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [0.28, 2.94]. The intake of the COVID-19 vaccine, P = 0.003 and 95% CI [0.73, 3.55]; waterpipe smoking, P = 0.017 and 95% CI [0.38, 3.85]; and having more somatic complaints, P = 0.005 and 95% CI [0.04, 0.25], also were significantly associated with higher ACT scores (more uncontrolled asthma). When taking the total behavior score as an independent variable, higher YSR scores were associated with higher ACT scores (more uncontrolled asthma), F(10, 191) = 4.30, P = 0.038, and 95% CI [0.003, 0.10]. Our findings support the inclusion of mental health treatments for better asthma control and point to a link between behavioral issues and uncontrolled asthma. In a developing nation without a clear established strategy for asthma prevention, the findings of this study could help develop potentially beneficial public health treatments.

Are the presence of asthma and the COVID-19 infection associated with behavioral changes in Lebanese adolescents?

Little evidence is available about psychological stressors in Lebanese asthmatic adolescents, where health-risk behaviors are a serious threat to public health. In addition, the COVID-19 epidemic has had a substantial influence on adolescents' mental health globally, especially in Lebanon, where the ongoing economic and political challenges have largely impacted their psychological well-being. This study aimed to explore the association of asthma and the COVID-19 infection with behaviors among Lebanese adolescents. Data were collected in July 2023, using the snowball sampling technique. Inclusion criteria for participation in the study included being of a resident and citizen of Lebanon and aged 12-18 years. Behavioral problems were assessed using the Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale, which yields nine subscales (anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, rule-breaking behavior, aggressive behavior, and other problems) and a total score. Asthma was significantly associated with somatic complaints (Beta [β] = 2.98), attention problems (β = 0.01), and other behavioral problems (β = 0.68). Having contracted the COVID-19 infection, compared to healthy asymptomatic state (β = 1.55), was significantly associated with more anxious behaviors. In the case of stratifying the analysis in terms of gender, the results showed that the presence of asthma was significantly associated with more social behaviors (β = 3.31), thought problems (β = 2.91), attention problems (β = 0.02), other behavioral problems (β = 1.71), and total behavioral problems (β = 5.71) in males. In case stratifying the analysis as to school type, the presence of asthma was significantly associated with more somatic complaints (β = 2.77) in participants from private schools whereas it was significantly associated with more total behavioral problems (total YSR scores) (β = 5.05) in participants from public schools. It is confirmed that asthma and psychiatric disorders are interconnected, so it would be of great importance to include screening through a psychological intervention in treating asthmatic adolescents by means of (1) recognizing factors affecting patients' mental health, and (2) regulating uncontrolled behaviors that can exacerbate symptoms in order to avoid the future morbidity.

Specific Learning Disabilities and Emotional-Behavioral Difficulties: Phenotypes and Role of the Cognitive Profile

Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) are often associated with emotional-behavioral problems. Many studies highlighted a greater psychopathological risk in SLD, describing both internalizing and externalizing problems. The aims of this study were to investigate the emotional-behavioral phenotype through the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and evaluate the mediating role of background and cognitive characteristics on the relationship between CBCL profile and learning impairment in children and adolescents with SLD. One hundred and twenty-one SLD subjects (7-18 years) were recruited. Cognitive and academic skills were assessed, and parents completed the questionnaire CBCL 6-18. The results showed that about half of the subjects manifested emotional-behavioral problems with a prevalence of internalizing symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, over externalizing ones. Older children showed greater internalizing problems than younger ones. Males have greater externalizing problems compared to females. A mediation model analysis revealed that learning impairment is directly predicted by age and familiarity for neurodevelopmental disorders and indirectly via the mediation of the WISC-IV/WAIS-IV Working Memory Index (WMI) by the CBCL Rule-Breaking Behavior scale. This study stresses the need to combine the learning and neuropsychological assessment with a psychopathological evaluation of children and adolescents with SLD and provides new interpretative insights on the complex interaction between cognitive, learning, and emotional-behavioral phenotypes.