Early language ability and depressive symptoms in preadolescence: Sex-specific mediating effects of self-concept domains
= -0.12, 95% CI [-0.24, -0.03]). After accounting for these mediators, there was no direct association between early language ability and depressive symptoms. These findings highlight potential sex-specific mechanisms through which early language ability is prospectively associated with depressive symptoms. Future research is necessary to determine whether enhancing self-concept can mitigate depressive symptoms in children with early language difficulties.
Authors
- Germaine Y. Q. Tng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4048-9707)
- Jordan Legaspi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5878-5398)
- Sharon Chew Wan Ting
- Johan Gunnar Eriksson
- Peipei Setoh
- Henning Tiemeier
- Helen Chen
- Pei Huang
- Yap Seng Chong
Institutions
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
- Harvard University Press (US)
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital (SG)
- Folkhälsans Forskningscentrum (FI)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Development and Psychopathology
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579426101308
- Primary Topic
- Language Development and Disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Research Foundation
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research
- National University of Singapore
- Medical Research Council
- National Medical Research Council