Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας ήταν να μελετήσει την ψυχοκοινωνική προσαρμογή και την αυτοεκτίμηση παιδιών με και χωρίς μαθησιακές δυσκολίες (ΜΔ), που φοιτούσαν στην Ε΄και Στ΄τάξη του Δημοτικού. Στη μελέτη έλαβαν μέρος συνολικά 137 μαθητές, εκ των οποίων οι 36 παρουσίαζαν ΜΔ βάσει εκτιμήσεων των εκπαιδευτικών σε αντίθεση με τους υπόλοιπους 101 μαθητές. Σε όλους τους συμμετέχοντες χορηγήθηκε ένα ερωτηματολόγιο αυτοαναφοράς με το οποίο συλλέχθηκαν κάποια δημογραφικά στοιχεία και μετρήθηκε η ψυχοκοινωνική προσαρμογή και οι επιμέρους διαστάσεις της – κοινωνική, σχολική, συναισθηματική επάρκεια, προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς και αυτοαντίληψη – καθώς επίσης η αυτοεκτίμηση. Τα αποτελέσματα των αναλύσεων έδειξαν ότι οι μαθητές με ΜΔ του δείγματος παρουσίαζαν χαμηλότερη ψυχοκοινωνική προσαρμογή και αυτοεκτίμηση από τους τους μαθητές χωρίς ΜΔ. Ακόμη, , τα παιδιά με ΜΔ σημείωσαν χαμηλότερο σκορ στην κοινωνική επάρκεια και την αυτοαντίληψη και υψηλότερο σκορ στα προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς συγκριτικά με τα παιδιά χωρίς ΜΔ. Ωστόσο, δεν υπήρξαν διαφοροποιήσεις μεταξύ των δύο ομάδων συμμετεχόντων ως προς τη σχολική και συναισθηματική επάρκεια. / The purpose of this study was to examine psychosocial adjustment and self-esteem in students with learning disabilities (LD) compared to their normally achieving classmates. The sample of the study consisted of 137 fifth and sixth grade elementary school students. The normally achieving children were 10, whereas the children with LD were 36 and were identified based on teachers' ratings. Self-ratings were used to measure psychosocial adjustment and its dimensions – social competence, school competence, emotional competence, behavioral problems, self-concept ¬– as well as self-esteem. Also, demographic data were obtained. The results of this study showed that children with LD exhibited lower psychosocial adjustment and self-esteem compared to their normally achieving classmates. Also, they had lower scores in social competence and self-concept, whereas they scored in behavioral problems. There was no significant differences found between children with and without LD school and emotional competence.

Divorce is part of every society, it is a world-wide phenomena. Divorce touches the lives of many people by breaking up families, causing personal individual trauma and affecting our children – the next generation. Consequences of this phenomenon are important, as what we do today will affect negatively or positively, the youth of tomorrow. Taken this fact into consideration one would think it logical to minimise the impact of this phenomenon on all those involved. Firstly, this study will attempt to identify the most prominent emotional indicators of a child’s drawing in order to focus therapy in those areas in an attempt to minimise or lessen the negative impact the child experiences. Secondly, the intervention strategies/guidelines researched, will be made available to parents, professionals and lay helpers alike in order to understand, support and positively facilitate the healing process within the child who is experiencing a family divorce. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

Divorce is part of every society, it is a world-wide phenomena. Divorce touches the lives of many people by breaking up families, causing personal individual trauma and affecting our children – the next generation. Consequences of this phenomenon are important, as what we do today will affect negatively or positively, the youth of tomorrow. Taken this fact into consideration one would think it logical to minimise the impact of this phenomenon on all those involved. Firstly, this study will attempt to identify the most prominent emotional indicators of a child’s drawing in order to focus therapy in those areas in an attempt to minimise or lessen the negative impact the child experiences. Secondly, the intervention strategies/guidelines researched, will be made available to parents, professionals and lay helpers alike in order to understand, support and positively facilitate the healing process within the child who is experiencing a family divorce. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)