Depressive symptomatology in learning disabled and non-learning disabled adolescents

David Michael Small, Marquette University

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate if a significant difference exists on the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS, Reynolds, 1987) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A) Lie Scale between learning disabled adolescents and non-learning disabled adolescents. Data were collected in eleven public junior and senior high schools. There was no statistically significant difference (p $>$.05) to support that learning disabled adolescents report more depressive symptomatology on the RADS than non-learning disabled adolescents. There was a statistically significant difference (p $<$.05) on the RADS among male and female adolescents. The female adolescents endorsed more depressive symptomatology. There was a statistically significant sex by grade interaction effect (p $<$.05) on the RADS among seventh, eighth and ninth grade male and female adolescents. This interaction suggests that depressive symptomatology may be a developmental phenomenon that changes with each grade level and gender of the adolescent. There was a statistically significant difference (p $<$.05) between the learning disabled and the non-learning disabled adolescents' scores on the MMPI-A Lie Scale. The learning disabled adolescents endorsed statements that may indicate a tendency to present a socially desirable and unrealistic response set. There was a statistically significant difference (p $<$.05) between seventh grade and eighth grade adolescents on the MMPI-A Lie Scale. The differences among the two grades may suggest that developmental changes take place by year and affect the manner in which adolescents endorsed statements on the MMPI-A Lie Scale.

This paper has been withdrawn.