Subgroups in language trajectories from 4 to 11 years: the nature and predictors of stable, improving and decreasing language trajectory groups

C McKean; D Wraith; P Eadie; F Cook; F Mensah; S Reilly

Journal article

Subgroups in language trajectories from 4 to 11 years: the nature and predictors of stable, improving and decreasing language trajectory groups

C McKean, D Wraith, P Eadie, F Cook, F Mensah, S Reilly

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines | WILEY | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12790

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Abstract

Background: Little is known about the nature, range and prevalence of different subgroups in language trajectories extant in a population from 4 to 11 years. This hinders strategic targeting and design of interventions, particularly targeting those whose difficulties will likely persist. Methods: Children's language abilities from 4 to 11 years were investigated in a specialist language longitudinal community cohort (N = 1,910). Longitudinal trajectory latent class modelling was used to characterise trajectories and identify subgroups. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors associated with the language trajectories children followed. Results: Three language trajector..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Tricia Eadie Author

Fiona Mensah Author

Sheena Reilly Author

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Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the participating parents and children and acknowledge the contribution of the Victorian Maternal and Child Health nurses who supported recruitment. This study was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC grants: 237106, 9436958, 1041947 and 1023493). NHMRC fellowships supported C.McK. (Centre of Research Excellence in Child Language 1023493), F.M. (1037449, 1111160), D.W. (1035261) and S.R. 491210). Research at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute is supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. The authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest.