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Social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with hemophilia
Angie M Trzepacz1, Kathryn Vannatta, W Hobart Davies
1Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA. atrzepacz@yahoo.com
Insights
Children with hemophilia function similarly to peers socially and behaviorally. However, both children and parents report more emotional well-being challenges, though scores remain within normal ranges.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Hematology
- Child Development
Background:
- Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder affecting social, emotional, and behavioral functioning in children.
- Previous research indicates potential psychosocial challenges in children with chronic health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of boys with hemophilia compared to their peers.
- To identify specific areas of difficulty or resilience in this population.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 40 boys with hemophilia and 40 age- and race-matched controls.
- Data collection through home and school-based assessments, including reports from teachers, classmates, parents, and self-reports from participants.
Main Results:
- Children with hemophilia demonstrated comparable social functioning to comparison peers.
- Participants with hemophilia reported greater emotional well-being difficulties, including depressive symptoms and lower self-perceptions.
- Parental reports corroborated increased emotional well-being challenges, but no significant differences in externalizing behaviors were noted.
Conclusions:
- Children with hemophilia are not at increased risk for social or behavioral problems.
- Emotional well-being, however, is an area of concern for both children with hemophilia and their parents.
- Despite reported difficulties, overall functioning for both groups remained within normative ranges.
Abstract:
This study examines the social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with hemophilia. Data were collected in the homes and schools of 40 boys with hemophilia and 40 comparison boys of the same race and age. Data on social, emotional, and behavioral functioning were collected from teachers, classmates, parents, and the participants. Children with hemophilia scored comparably with comparison peers in all areas of social functioning but reported more difficulties with emotional well-being, including more depressive symptomatology and lower self-perceptions. Parent report also indicated more difficulties with emotional well-being. Parents did not report significant differences in externalizing behavior problems. In conclusion, children with hemophilia were not found to be at increased risk of social or behavioral difficulties. However, both children with hemophilia and their parents identified more difficulties with emotional well-being. Nevertheless, approximately all mean scores for both groups remained within the normal range.