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Peer rejection, social behavior, and psychological adjustment in children with juvenile rheumatic disease

Marlene J Sandstrom1, Laura E Schanberg

  • 1Department of Psychology, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267, USA. marlene.sandstrom@williams.edu

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|January 30, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children with juvenile rheumatic disease (JRD) experiencing pain and peer rejection show higher depressive symptoms. Social competence is crucial for identifying at-risk children with JRD.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Rheumatology
  • Child Psychology
  • Social Psychiatry

Background:

  • Juvenile rheumatic disease (JRD) presents significant challenges for affected children.
  • Understanding the psychosocial impact of JRD, particularly depressive symptoms, is critical for comprehensive care.
  • Social competence is a key factor in children's emotional well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between disease status, social competence, and depressive symptoms in children with JRD.
  • To determine if social competence mediates the link between disease characteristics and depressive symptoms.
  • To test the hypothesis that social competence explains variance in depressive symptoms beyond disease status.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty-six children diagnosed with JRD participated in the study.
  • Standardized assessments were used to measure pain, health status, and depressive symptoms.
  • Disease severity was rated by a rheumatologist, and teachers provided social behavior and peer rejection data.

Main Results:

  • Pain, peer rejection, and social behavior problems were positively correlated with depressive symptoms.
  • Social variables maintained significance in predicting depressive symptoms, even after accounting for pain levels.
  • Peer rejection acted as a moderator, intensifying the association between pain and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Social functioning is a significant factor in the mental health of children with JRD.
  • Healthcare providers should evaluate the social competence of children with JRD.
  • Identifying socially vulnerable children can help prevent internalizing problems like depression.
Abstract

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