Prevalence of loneliness and friendship in children with learning disabilities: Children's, parents' and teachers' perceptions

This study investigated loneliness feelings and the quality of friendship among 58 students with learning disabilities, and compared their loneliness and friendship quality evaluations with their parents' and teachers' perceptions. Results revealed variances among groups: the students perceived their loneliness as lower than their parents and teachers. Examining the quality of friendship, results indicated that parents counted a larger number of student's friends, with a higher degree of student acceptance in class, while students tended to have fewer friends. Contrary to the parents' perception, teachers reported less loneliness at school, though no differences were found in teachers' perception of student's loneliness at home. The study highlighted the need for parent and teacher involvement in students' social and emotional difficulties, and accentuated the importance of developing awareness and an ability to differentiate between aspects of loneliness and friendship quality among students with disabilities.