The investigation of the relationship between depressive symptoms and self-perception in children diagnosed with specific learning disorder: The mediator role of difficulties in emotional regulation (tur)

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the self-perception and difficulties in emotion regulation are predictors of depressive symptoms in children diagnosed with specific learning disorder (SLD). Furthermore the other aim was to investigate the mediating role of the difficulties in emotion regulation in the relationship between depressive symptoms and self-perception. Method: The study sample was consisted of 326 participants among 10-14 ages, clinical group diagnosed with SLD (n = 156) and healthy control group (n = 170). Piers Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, Children's Depression Scale, Emotion Adjustment Scale and Demographic Information Form were used as data collection tools. Results: According to the results depression and difficulties in emotion regulation scores of the SLD group were significantly higher; self-perception scores were lower than control group. It was found that self-perception and difficulties in emotion regulation significantly have predicted depressive symptoms in children with SLD; self-perception has predicted depressive symptoms in control group but difficulties in emotion regulation had no effect on depressive symptoms in this group. The mediator role analysis results have showed that difficulties in emotion regulation had a partial mediating role between depressive symptoms and self-perception in children with SLD. Discussion: TThe results obtained from the comparison of the clinical and the control group are consistent with the literature. The finding that difficulties in emotional regulation has a partial mediating role in the relationship between depressive symptoms and self-perception in SLD group is important for the intervention programs which will develop to increase the global functionality of individuals with SLD.