PEER PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN WITH HEMIPLEGIA IN MAINSTREAM PRIMARY-SCHOOLS

A representative sample of 55 mainstreamed 9-10-year-olds with hemiple gia were compared with all classmates on sociometric measures of popul arity and friendship, and with 55 matched controls on measures of vict imisation. Children with hemiplegia were more rejected and less popula r, had fewer friends, and were more often victimised; they were not mo re likely to be bullies themselves. These differences were not fully a ccounted for by group differences in teacher-estimated IQ and behaviou r. Possible explanations range from neurologically determined deficits in mentalising skills to peer prejudices about children with disabili ties. The development of appropriate intervention strategies should be a high priority, particularly since peer problems not only result in current distress but also predict psychosocial problems in the future.