Evaluation of psychological aspects in a group of dyslexic university students
Silvia Cerea, Gioia Bottesi, Erica Curzi, Marta Ghisi, Irene Mammarella, Anna Re
Dyslexia is a Learning Disability characterised by reading difficulties regarding both speed and
accuracy. Affected individuals may present psychological and psychopathological problems, such as
low self-esteem and anxious and depressive symptoms. This research was conducted in light of the
scarce number of studies investigating psychological and psychopathological features in young adults
suffering from dyslexia. Therefore, the main aim was to explore these characteristics in a sample of
university students with dyslexia compared to a control group matched for gender, age, and education.
Results showed that individuals with dyslexia reported more physical complaints, social problems,
and attention problems than healthy participants; on the contrary, no differences between groups in
regards to other psychopathological features, self-esteem, and resiliency were observed. Furthermore,
negative correlations between reading accuracy and social problems and oppositive behaviours
emerged in the clinical sample. Thus, some psychological problems seem to persist also in young
adults suffering from dyslexia; nonetheless, a number of protective factors might have decreased
the severity of the possible psychopathological consequences that may be found in individuals with
dyslexia.
Keywords
Dyslexia, Psychological features, Psychopathological features, University students,
DSM-5.
