The Strategies Adopted by Dutch Children with Dyslexia to Maintain Their Self-Esteem When Teased at School

This article reports on a study of children's narratives about the relationships between dyslexia and being teased at school and explores the dynamics between dyslexia, being bullied, self-esteem, and psychosocial problems. We reconstructed four profiles of inner logic in the children's reactions to being teased or humiliated as a consequence of their dyslexia. Most children with dyslexia protect themselves against teasing and feeling worthless by concealing both their emotions and their academic failures. Others, however, concentrate on their academic progress, and their self-esteem seems to be strengthened by fighting against dyslexia.

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