BEHAVIORAL-ADJUSTMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SURGICALLY PALLIATED COMPLEX CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE

Examined the behavioral adjustment at school age of 26 children with s urgically treated complex congenital heart disease compared to that of 26 children who had been diagnosed as having an innocent murmur. The children with complex heart disease were rated by their parents as mor e withdrawn, having more social problems, and engaging in fewer activi ties, and by their teachers as more withdrawn. The families of the chi ldren with complex heart disease reported experiencing more stress. Tw o variables, family strain and exercise tolerance, were strong predict ors of teacher-rated school adjustment in the children with complex he art disease, with family strain accounting for 33% of the variance, an d exercise tolerance 24%. The impact of the child's chronic condition on the family thus seems to be a critical factor in the school adjustm ent of these children, more so even than the physical limitations impo sed on the child by the chronic condition.