The Loneliness Experience of Children With Learning Disabilities

Bryan's early studies (Bryan, 1974; Bryan & Bryan, 1978) initiated the comprehensive body of research that focused attention to the social difficulties of children with learning disabilities (LD). Meta-analysis studies (Kavale & Forness, 1996; Ochoa & Palmer, 1995) and research summaries (Bryan, 1997) demonstrated that students with learning disabilities often experience lower sociometric status and peer rejection more than their nondisabled peers. The objective of this chapter is to introduce the private experience of loneliness as reported by students with learning disabilities, to report research outcomes and future trends, pinpointing attention not only at the children's difficulties, but also at their resilience perspectives.