Peer Victimization Among Students With Specific Language Impairment, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Typical Development

What is it about?

Having a disability has been shown to be a significant risk factor for being bullied by your peers across a variety of ages and clinical conditions, including specific language impairment (SLI) and ADHD. In this study, how behavioral and verbal limitations contribute to being bullied was examined by comparing the self-reported peer experiences of children with specific language impairment (SLI), to children with ADHD and typical development. Results indicated that even though children with SLI had more close friends than children with ADHD, they were at the highest risk for being physically and verbally bullied.

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Why is it important?

Very few studies have examined social risk across groups of children with different clinical conditions. The results of this study suggest that limited verbal skills place children at considerable risk for aggression from their peers even when they have several close friendships. Interventions targeting social skills need to consider first how bullying might be contributing to children's difficulties.