A four-year longitudinal investigation of the social skills and behavior problems of students with learning disabilities

This longitudinal, prospective study investigated the social skills and behavior problems of three groups of students (10 students per group) from kindergarten through third grade: learning disabilities (LD), low achievement (LA), and average/high achievement (A/HA). Social skills and behavior problem rating scales were completed by teachers on all students during kindergarten through third grade. Students in the LD and LA group exhibited significantly lower social skills and higher levels of behavior problems than their A/HA peers, but no significant differences for either measure were found between the LD and LA groups. Scores on the cooperating/responding factor of the social skills rating scale increased over time, but scores on the outgoing/initiating factor of the social skills rating scale did not change significantly over time. Discussion focused on the finding that students in the LD and LA groups did not differ significantly on social skills or behavior problems over time, though both groups demonstrated more behavior problems and lower social skills than the A/HA students.