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Healthy Development in Adolescents with Mental Illness and Learning Problems

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Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion

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Introduction

Over 10 % of US adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 have been diagnosed with a learning disability (Bloom, Cohen, & Freeman, 2010), and learning disabilities (LD) are associated with numerous challenges, including academic and social problems. Due to learning problems, school is often difficult and one-quarter of teens with LD drop out of high school (Cortiella, 2009). In addition to academic problems, several decades of research have consistently documented the social and emotional difficulties of teens with learning problems, including trouble relating to peers and communicating with others, and with social skills (Bryan, Burstein, & Ergul, 2004).

Contributing to even greater struggles for individuals with learning problems are co-occurring mental health disorders. Children and adolescents with LD are nearly 4.5 times as likely as their non-disabled counterparts to have a diagnosable mental illness (Emerson & Hatton, 2007b). In addition to difficulties associated...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University School of Social Work, NS #426 1700 Mishawaka Avenue, 7111, South Bend, IN, 46634-7111, USA

    Elizabeth A. Wahler

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  1. Elizabeth A. Wahler
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Correspondence to Elizabeth A. Wahler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, New London, CT, USA

    Thomas P. Gullotta

  2. University of Connecticut, West Hartford, USA

    Martin Bloom

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Wahler, E.A. (2014). Healthy Development in Adolescents with Mental Illness and Learning Problems. In: Gullotta, T.P., Bloom, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_232

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_232

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5998-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5999-6

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