biostudies-literatureFuchs LSNICHD NIH HHS1093-1111https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12499653biostudies-literatureUnknown116(7)Reading comprehension (RC) and word-problem solving (WPS) both involve text processing. Yet, despite evidence that RC text-structure intervention improves RC, transfer to WPS has not been investigated. Similarly, despite evidence that WPS text-structure intervention improves WPS, transfer to RC has not been examined. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to assess effects of single-domain text-structure intervention (RC <i>or</i> WPS intervention) for simultaneously improving RC <i>and</i> WPS. Second-grade children with comorbid learning difficulty across RC and WPS were randomly assigned to 3 conditions: RC text-structure intervention (RC.INT), WPS text-structure intervention (WP.INT), or the standard school program (the control group). Inferential tests for acquisition effects in multilevel models were significant. RC.INT's effect sizes (vs. control) on RC were <i>g</i> = 1.16 and 0.83; WP.INT's ESs (vs. control) on WPS were <i>g</i> = 1.36 and 1.05. Inferential tests for cross-domain transfer effects in multilevel models were also significant. RC.INT's ESs (vs. control) on WPS were <i>g</i> = 0.41 and 0.68; WP.INT's ES (vs. control) on RC were <i>g</i> = 0.91 and 0.54. Children's text-structure knowledge in passages and word problems mediated acquisition and cross-domain transfer effects in multilevel models. Findings suggest that text-structure intervention may help address the complex needs of children with comorbid RC and WPS difficulty.Journal of educational psychologyTransfer between Reading Comprehension and Word-Problem Solving among Children with Learning Difficulty in Both Domains.PMC12499653R24 HD075443P20 HD075443R01 HD097772P30 HD015052Fuchs LSEspinas DMancilla-Martinez JSeethaler PMMartin BNSterba SKFuchs DCutting LEfalseTransfer between Reading Comprehension and Word-Problem Solving among Children with Learning Difficulty in Both Domains.Reading comprehension (RC) and word-problem solving (WPS) both involve text processing. Yet, despite evidence that RC text-structure intervention improves RC, transfer to WPS has not been investigated. Similarly, despite evidence that WPS text-structure intervention improves WPS, transfer to RC has not been examined. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to assess effects of single-domain text-structure intervention (RC <i>or</i> WPS intervention) for simultaneously improving RC <i>and</i> WPS. Second-grade children with comorbid learning difficulty across RC and WPS were randomly assigned to 3 conditions: RC text-structure intervention (RC.INT), WPS text-structure intervention (WP.INT), or the standard school program (the control group). Inferential tests for acquisition effects in multilevel models were significant. RC.INT's effect sizes (vs. control) on RC were <i>g</i> = 1.16 and 0.83; WP.INT's ESs (vs. control) on WPS were <i>g</i> = 1.36 and 1.05. Inferential tests for cross-domain transfer effects in multilevel models were also significant. RC.INT's ESs (vs. control) on WPS were <i>g</i> = 0.41 and 0.68; WP.INT's ES (vs. control) on RC were <i>g</i> = 0.91 and 0.54. Children's text-structure knowledge in passages and word problems mediated acquisition and cross-domain transfer effects in multilevel models. Findings suggest that text-structure intervention may help address the complex needs of children with comorbid RC and WPS difficulty.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2026-06-04T07:54:02.263Z2026-05-07T03:08:42.731ZS-EPMC124996534105910010.1037/edu0000911