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J Psychopathol Behav Assess (2009) 31:228234 DOI 10.1007/s10862-008-9110-4
Health-Related Quality of Life in College Undergraduates with Learning Disabilities: The Mediational Roles of Anxiety and Sadness
Thompson E. Davis III & Robert E. Nida &
Kimberly R. Zlomke & Marie S. Nebel-Schwalm
Published online: 24 October 2008# Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008
Abstract Little research has examined health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with learning disabilities in post-secondary settings and the potential relationship between a learning disability and anxiety or sadness. This study examined HRQoL in 68 undergraduate students: 34 students who reported having been diagnosed with a learning disability were compared to 34 students who indicated they had not been diagnosed with a learning disability. Participants completed an online survey of anxiety, sadness, and HRQoL, including the SF-36. ANCOVAs on the Emotional Well-Being and Role Limitations Due to Emotional Problems scales from the SF-36 revealed that students reporting a diagnosis of a learning disability were significantly more impaired in Emotional Well-Being. Regression analyses suggested that impairment in Emotional Well-Being was mediated by separate ratings of both anxiety and sadness. Results indicated that those undergraduates reporting learning disabilities suffered from an impaired sense of well-being associated with anxious and sad feelings.
Keywords Quality of life . Anxiety. Sadness .
Learning disability
The use of quality of life (QoL) measures has become an integral part of mental health evaluations in recent years (Mendlowicz and Stein 2000; Mogotsi et al. 2000; Quilty et al. 2003; Wells et al. 1989). Quality of life typically includes the concepts of well-being, functioning, life-satisfaction, health, and disability and refers to aspects of life that make life particularly fulfilling and worthwhile (Quilty et al. 2003, p.406). In contrast to clinical ratings of impairment, QoL assessments are based on the subjective global views of the individual. In addition, QoL assessments can be further refined to specifically reflect the individuals impression of his or her functioning (i.e., health-related quality of life; HRQoL) as opposed to the more global indicators or other specific measures (e.g., life-satisfaction). As a result, QoL measures, and in particular HRQoL instruments, provide valuable, complementary information for the clinical profile (Katsching 1997; Mogotsi et al. 2000).
Research examining typically achieving adults has uncovered rather pervasive and debilitating effects upon...