title: Emotional experience with dyslexia and self-esteem: the protective role of perceived family support in late adulthood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the growing body of evidence that suggests dyslexia persists through the life span, there is a dearth of research that explores the complicating factor of dyslexia in late adulthood. Based upon stress and coping theory, this study examined whether perceived family support protects the impact of negative emotional experience with dyslexia on self-esteem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults aged 21 years and older with diagnosed or self-reported dyslexia were participants in a web-based survey. A total of 224 individuals completed the survey. These findings are from the 50 participants who reported to be 60 years or older. Completed measures include their perception of family support, emotional experience with dyslexia, self-esteem, and demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preliminary analysis revealed that negative emotional experience with dyslexia negatively impacts self-esteem. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis demonstrated that positive perceived family support significantly buffers, mitigates, and protects the effects of negative emotional experiences with dyslexia on self-esteem in individuals with dyslexia in late adulthood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, family support promoted self-esteem because as a protective dynamic, it helped older adults cope with the emotional distress associated with dyslexia. Implications of these findings are discussed.
authors: a School of Social Work, College of Human Ecology , East Carolina University , Greenville , NC , USA.
authors: Lena W
authors: LW
authors: Carawan
authors: a School of Social Work, College of Human Ecology , East Carolina University , Greenville , NC , USA.
authors: Blace A
authors: BA
authors: Nalavany
authors: a School of Social Work, College of Human Ecology , East Carolina University , Greenville , NC , USA.
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support
keywords: coping; emotional experience with dyslexia; family support; self-esteem