Comparing dimensions of future thinking in children with learning disabilities and normal children

Considering the necessity of identifying future thinking in children with learning disabilities in order to provide them with appropriate education, the purpose of this study was to investigate the dimensions of future thinking among children with and without learning disabilities.

The research used a causal-comparative method. The research population included all male and female students with learning disabilities in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades of elementary school in the academic year of 2022-2023 in Behbahan City. Overall, 80 children were selected as samples (40 normal and 40 with learning disabilities). The Children’s Future Thinking scale (Mazachowsky & Mahy, 2020) was used to collect required data, which were then analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).

The results showed that children with learning disabilities had a significant difference with their normal counterparts in the average scores of savings (F=68/312), prospective memory (F=60/644), event foresight (F=111/914), planning (F=112.481) and delaying pleasure (F=29.536).

Based on the research results, it can be concluded that children with learning disabilities are weak in the aspects of future thinking; therefore, they need training and strengthening in this field.