R1 version, self-concept in Taiwanese adolescents with congenital heart disease

The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare differences in self-concept between male and female adolescents with congenital heart disease, and to compare the self-concepts of these adolescents to that of the general adolescent population using normative data.

A total of 300 adolescents, 143 male and 157 female, from two medical centers in Taiwan completed the Tennessee Self-Concept Scales and the scores of male and female subjects were compared. The scores of adolescents with congenital heart disease were also compared with normative data of healthy Taiwanese adolescents.

Girls with congenital heart disease showed significantly lower mean scores in Physical Self, Social Self, Personal Self, Academic Self and Overall Self domains on the Tennessee Self-Concept Scales when compared to boys with congenital heart disease. When compared to the average value of normative data, adolescent boys with congenital heart disease had significantly higher mean T-scores on Physical Self, Family Self, Social Self, Personal Self, Academic Self and Overall Self, and adolescent girls had significantly higher mean T-scores in Moral-ethical Self, Social Self, Personal Self, Academic Self and Overall Self domains. There were weak negative correlations between severity of congenital heart disease and Physical Self T-scores, and between the number of heart operations and Academic T-scores.

Self-concept in adolescents with congenital heart disease is similar to or even higher than that of their normal counterparts. More holistic views of adolescents with congenital heart disease, including their self-concept, appear warranted, especially for adolescent girls with congenital heart disease.