Table 3.
Differences in SDQ scores for children with and without LD at 4, 5 and 7 years of age
| SDQ subscale | LDa
M (SD) |
Not LDb
M (SD) |
Model 0 | Model 1 | Model 2 | R 2 (%)e | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unadjusted mean diff (95% CI) | P value | Adjusted mean diff (95% CI)c | P value | Adjusted mean diff (95% CI)d | P value | ||||
| 4 years of age | |||||||||
| Emotional symptoms | 1.74 (1.65) | 1.37 (1.49) | 0.37 (0.06, 0.69) | 0.02 | 0.32 (0.004, 0.63) | 0.047 | 0.28 (− 0.05, 0.62) | 0.10 | 6.5 |
| Conduct problems | 2.16 (1.47) | 1.49 (1.41) | 0.67 (0.38, 0.97) | < 0.001 | 0.56 (0.27, 0.86) | < 0.001 | 0.55 (0.23, 0.86) | 0.001 | 9.8 |
| Hyperactivity–inattention | 4.30 (2.66) | 3.18 (2.14) | 1.12 (0.66, 1.59) | < 0.001 | 0.88 (0.42, 1.34) | < 0.001 | 0.72 (0.23, 1.20) | 0.004 | 10.9 |
| Peer problems | 2.06 (1.55) | 1.22 (1.39) | 0.84 (0.55, 1.14) | < 0.001 | 0.79 (0.49, 1.08) | < 0.001 | 0.68 (0.36, 0.99) | < 0.001 | 7.7 |
| Prosocial behaviour | 6.78 (1.90) | 7.53 (1.76) | − 0.75 (− 1.12, − 0.37) | < 0.001 | − 0.58 (− 0.96, − 0.22) | 0.002 | − 0.52 (− 0.92, − 0.13) | 0.01 | 8.2 |
| Total difficulties | 10.27 (4.97) | 7.26 (4.17) | 3.01 (2.12, 3.91) | < 0.001 | 2.55 (1.68, 3.42) | < 0.001 | 2.22 (1.30, 3.14) | < 0.001 | 16.3 |
| 5 years of age | |||||||||
| Emotional symptoms | 1.66 (1.45) | 1.30 (1.43) | 0.36 (0.04, 0.67) | 0.03 | 0.37 (0.05, 0.69) | 0.03 | 0.25 (− 0.08, 0.59) | 0.14 | 6.9 |
| Conduct problems | 1.79 (1.61) | 1.40 (1.38) | 0.39 (0.08, 0.70) | 0.02 | 0.32 (0.01, 0.64) | 0.04 | 0.28 (− 0.05, 0.61) | 0.09 | 9.3 |
| Hyperactivity–inattention | 3.83 (2.56) | 2.92 (2.09) | 0.91 (0.43, 1.39) | < 0.001 | 0.74 (0.27, 1.22) | 0.002 | 0.56 (0.06, 1.06) | 0.03 | 10.3 |
| Peer problems | 1.52 (1.60) | 0.95 (1.22) | 0.56 (0.28, 0.84) | < 0.001 | 0.51 (0.22, 0.79) | < 0.001 | 0.42 (0.12, 0.73) | 0.01 | 7.0 |
| Prosocial behaviour | 7.69 (1.70) | 8.00 (1.71) | − 0.30 (− 0.68, 0.08) | 0.12 | − 0.17 (− 0.55, 0.22) | 0.40 | − 0.08 (− 0.49, 0.32) | 0.69 | 6.4 |
| Total difficulties | 8.80 (5.05) | 6.57 (4.01) | 2.22 (1.30, 3.14) | < 0.001 | 1.94 (1.04, 2.84) | < 0.001 | 1.52 (0.58, 2.46) | 0.002 | 15.9 |
| 7 years of age | |||||||||
| Emotional symptoms | 1.78 (1.84) | 1.49 (1.70) | 0.29 (− 0.05, 0.62) | 0.09 | 0.30 (− 0.03, 0.64) | 0.07 | 0.29 (− 0.07, 0.64) | 0.11 | 6.8 |
| Conduct problems | 1.77 (1.79) | 1.25 (1.39) | 0.52 (0.24, 0.81) | < 0.001 | 0.47 (0.19, 0.75) | 0.001 | 0.44 (0.14, 0.73) | 0.004 | 8.6 |
| Hyperactivity–inattention | 4.01 (2.66) | 2.76 (2.23) | 1.25 (0.80, 1.70) | < 0.001 | 1.10 (0.65, 1.54) | < 0.001 | 0.89 (0.42, 1.37) | < 0.001 | 10.9 |
| Peer problems | 1.20 (1.63) | 0.87 (1.23) | 0.33 (0.08, 0.58) | 0.01 | 0.25 (− 0.003, 0.50) | 0.05 | 0.15 (− 0.12, 0.42) | 0.27 | 6.6 |
| Prosocial behaviour | 8.12 (1.88) | 8.36 (1.62) | − 0.24 (− 0.56, 0.08) | 0.14 | − 0.15 (− 0.47, 0.17) | 0.37 | − 0.26 (− 0.60, 0.08) | 0.14 | 5.6 |
| Total difficulties | 8.75 (6.10) | 6.37 (4.42) | 2.39 (1.47, 3.30) | < 0.001 | 2.12 (1.22, 3.02) | < 0.001 | 1.77 (0.82, 2.72) | < 0.001 | 14.1 |
aAt 4 years, N = 102; at 5 years, N = 88; at 7 years, N = 122
bAt 4 years, N = 669; at 5 years, N = 683; at 7 years, N = 649. LD defined as ≥ 1.25 SD below the mean on expressive and/or receptive language
cAdjusted for sex, mother’s education level at baseline and maternal mental health score at each age
dAdjusted for sex, mother’s education level at baseline, maternal mental health score at each age, non-verbal IQ at 4 or 7 years, family history of communication problems, SEIFA disadvantage score at baseline, maternal age at baseline, and English spoken at home at baseline
e R 2 is for fully adjusted model including all potential confounding variables