PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SHORT STATURE

Abstract

Background: Physical competence is a matter of normal & healthy living among all but adolescent population has a major concern, because during this period confidence & adequate body images are inculcated. If by chance it is disturbed due to any reason it develops lots of behavioral complexities like inferiority, poor body images & various psychological disturbances.

Aim & Objective: This investigation has observed psychological impact on children who carry short stature therefore their level of anxiety, depression, temperament & personality were being assessed.

Methods: The proposed study was cross-sectional study and study period was of 1 year (2017-2018). We selected cases of short stature both boys & girls (12-16 years of age) after informed consent without any history of trauma or neurological disease from our hospital. After taking consent from the parents of the children, their physical as well as psychological condition including Anxiety, General Health, Depression, Personality & Temperament were assessed by using different standardized psychological scales.

Results: We found males have higher health issues while females have moderate health issues. Anxiety level of entire group was ranged from mild to moderate. They also reflected higher tendency to be depressed ranging from mild to moderate. Even their temperamental issues also fell at moderate range. Personality wise significant findings are marked.

Conclusion: On correlation analysis there was no correlation between  short  stature  and  anxiety  or  depression.  However  there  seems  to  be  a positivecorrelation with health issues and anxiety only in females.

Relevance: It is important to study this impact because in case children are found to be negatively affected by their short statured physique, appropriate counseling can be done at an appropriate time, so that these children can achieve their goals to their utmost potential.