Family functioning, temperament, and psychologic adaptation in children with congenital or acquired limb deficiencies

Family functioning and child temperament variables were investigated as predictors of psychologic and social adaptation in 42 children with congenital or acquired limb deficiencies. Higher psychologic and social adaptation were seen when there was more family cohesion and moral-religious emphasis and organization, in combination with less family conflict. With regard to child temperament, more emotionality predicted greater internalizing and externalizing behavior problems and less social competence. In addition to the main effects of the family functioning and child temperament predictor variables, the interaction between family cohesion and child emotionality significantly predicted both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. The findings are discussed in terms of the risk and protective effects of family functioning domains and temperament on the psychologic and social adaptation of children with visible physical handicaps.