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Risk-taking and the adolescent hemophiliac
Summary
Adolescents with hemophilia (an inherited bleeding disorder) do not show greater interest in risky physical activities than their peers. However, older hemophilic adolescents may engage more in these behaviors, adapting them to their condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Adolescent Psychology
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Clinical observations suggest adolescents with hemophilia (an inherited bleeding disorder) may have a high interest in high-risk physical activities.
- This perception warrants investigation to understand adolescent risk-taking behaviors and their relation to hemophilia management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical impression of heightened risk-taking attitudes and behaviors in adolescents with hemophilia.
- To compare risk-taking attitudes and behaviors between hemophilic and non-hemophilic adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A self-administered questionnaire assessed risk-taking attitudes and anticipated behaviors in 17 hemophilic and 17 age-matched non-hemophilic adolescents (ages 11-19).
- Scores were calculated for 23 different physical activities.
Main Results:
- Hemophiliacs did not exhibit greater risk-taking attitudes or anticipate more risk-taking behavior compared to controls.
- Older hemophilic adolescents (15-19 years) showed a greater likelihood of engaging in stated risk-taking behaviors than younger hemophiliacs (11-14 years).
- Activities chosen by hemophiliacs were often adapted to their condition's limitations.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents with hemophilia do not inherently possess greater risk-taking attitudes than non-hemophilic peers.
- While older hemophilic adolescents may increase engagement in risk-taking behaviors, these activities appear adapted to their condition.
- Further behavioral observations are needed to confirm these findings, especially with advancements in hemophilia home care.