Psychosocial Evaluation of Children with Endocrine Disease
Abstract
In an effort to document psychosocial effects of chronic illness in children, groups of adolescent males with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or short stature/delayed adolescent maturation were surveyed, and results compared to those of a control group. Each child's self-esteem, social competence, behavior problems, and his parent's attitudes toward child rearing were measured using questionnaires. No significant differences were found between groups for the child's self-esteem. Short stature boys rated themselves less socially competent than did control group boys. Parents of both illness groups rated their children as having more behavior problems than did control group parents. Although group means for parent attitudes did not differ, there were different patterns of correlation between the attitudes and the child's social competence and behavior problems. Results indicate that specific aspects of a disorder must be considered in any attempt to improve the psychosocial adjustment of a chronically ill child.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 12, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA634048
Entities
People
- Carole B. Menzel
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences