Health, employment and relationships: correlates of personal wellbeing in young adults with and without a history of childhood language impairment

Gina Conti-Ramsden*, Kevin Durkin, Pearl L. H. Mok, Umar Toseeb, Nicola Botting

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)
79 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objective: We examine the potential associations between self-rated health, employment situation, relationship status and personal wellbeing in young adults with and without a history of language impairment (LI). Methods: In total, 172 24-year-olds from the UK participated, with approximately half (N = 84) having a history of LI. Personal wellbeing was measured using ratings from three questions from the Office for National Statistics regarding life satisfaction, happiness and life being worthwhile. Results: There were similarities between individuals with a history of LI and their age-matched peers in self-rated personal wellbeing. However, regression analyses revealed self-rated health was the most consistent predictor of personal wellbeing for individuals with a history of LI in relation to life satisfaction (21% of variance), happiness (11%) and perceptions that things one does in life are worthwhile (32%). None of the regression analyses were significant for their peers. Conclusions: Similarities on ratings of wellbeing by young adults with and without a history of LI can mask heterogeneity and important differences. Young adults with a history of LI are more vulnerable to the effects of health, employment and relationship status on their wellbeing than their peers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20-28
Number of pages9
JournalSocial Science and Medicine
Volume160
Early online date8 May 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2016

Keywords

  • employment
  • language impairment
  • relationship status
  • self-rated health
  • wellbeing
  • young adulthood

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