GOAL-DIRECTED BEHAVIOR AND PERCEPTION OF SELF-COMPETENCE IN CHILDREN WITH SPINA-BIFIDA

Compared a group of school-age children with spina bifida (n = 15) bet ween the ages of 6 and 12 years with an age- and IQ-matched control gr oup of normal children (n = 15). As predicted, the spina bifida childr en spent less time using goal-directed behaviors and more time in simp le manipulation of the toys compared to the normal children. There wer e no group differences between the spina bifida and normal children's perceived competence but parents of the spina bifida children rated th eir children as having lower cognitive and physical competence. Associ ations were found between goal-directed behaviors and perceived self-c ompetence for children in the spina bifida group but not the normal gr oup.