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Cited by 38Language Development and DisordersReading and Literacy DevelopmentLanguage Acquisition and Education

Change in receptive vocabulary from childhood to adulthood: associated mental health, education and employment outcomes

Armstrong, Rebecca, Arnott, Wendy, Copland, David A., McMahon, Katie, Khan, Asaduzzaman, Najman, Jake M., Scott, James G.·2017·International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders
DOI 10.1111/1460-6984.12301
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Abstract

Background: Population‐based studies have found that early language delays are associated with poorer long‐term outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. Few studies have explored the influence of change in language ability over time on adult outcomes. Aim: To examine the educational, vocational and mental health outcomes for adults accounting for different vocabulary developmental profiles over a 16‐year period. Methods & Procedures: A total of 1914 participants of the Mater‐University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP) were categorized into four groups based on their vocabulary skills at 5 and 21 years: (1) persistently good ( n = 1679), (2) persistently poor ( n = 33), (3) improved ( n = 160), and (4) deteriorated ( n = 42). The associations between vocabulary group and educational, vocational, and mental health outcomes at 21 years were investigated. Outcomes & Results: Adults with deteriorated and persistently poor vocabulary skills were less likely to have completed secondary school; with the improved, deteriorated and persistently poor groups being less likely to be engaged in education, employment or training at the 21‐year follow‐up, compared with the persistently good group. Adults with deteriorated performance were at an increased risk of affective disorders, as well as substance and alcohol abuse/misuse. Conclusions & Implications: These findings provide evidence that impaired vocabulary skills in adulthood, regardless of whether the deficit was acquired early or later, are associated with adverse outcomes. Clinicians and educators need to be aware of these adversities and ensure they are supporting children and adolescents in whom language difficulties exist or emerge so as to prevent poor long‐term outcomes from occurring.

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  • One study (Armstrong et al. 2017) reported that adults with deteriorated vocabulary performance had an increased risk for illicit and alcohol misuse or abuse.

    “with one study reporting that adults with deteriorated vocabulary performance had an increased risk for illicit and alcohol misuse or abuse (Armstrong et al. 2017).”

    From Long-term effects of childhood speech and language disorders: A scoping review (2020) · cites this paper as Armstrong et al. 2017

  • Several studies showed that persons with a history of SLDs were less likely to be employed in a full-time job.

    “less likely to be employed in a full-time job (Arkkila et al. 2008; Armstrong et al. 2017; Beitchman et al. 2001; Snowling et al. 2001)”

    From Long-term effects of childhood speech and language disorders: A scoping review (2020) · cites this paper as Armstrong et al. 2017

  • For mood disorders, two studies with comparable quality ratings reported disparate results: one reported increased risk of mood disorders amongst participants with deteriorated vocabulary performance over follow-up, while the other reported no difference between speech and language disorder participants and controls.

    “When the subset of mood disorders (i.e. depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder) was examined, two studies with comparable quality ratings reported disparate results. One reported an increased risk of mood disorders amongst participants with deteriorated vocabulary performance over follow-up (Armstrong et al. 2017), while the other reported no difference between SLD participants and”

    From Long-term effects of childhood speech and language disorders: A scoping review (2020) · cites this paper as Armstrong et al. 2017

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Authors
Armstrong, R., Arnott, W., Copland, D. A., McMahon, K., Khan, A., Najman, J. M., & Scott, J. G.
Affiliations
The University of Queensland (AU)
Corresponding author
Armstrong, Rebecca
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-12-29
Volume
52
Issue
5
Pages
561-572
ISSN
  • 1368-2822 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-6984
DOI
10.1111/1460-6984.12301
OpenAlex
W2565589406
Cited by
38
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2
FWCI
3.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Acquisition and Education
Keywords
receptive vocabulary, language development, language delay, educational attainment, employment effects, mental health outcomes, mood disorders, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, long-term outcomes
MeSH terms
Preliminary Data, Adolescent, Age Factors, Alcoholism, Child, Child Language, Child, Preschool, Educational Status, Employment, Female, Humans, Language Development Disorders, Male, Mental Health, Queensland, Risk Factors, Time Factors, Vocabulary, Mood Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult

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