Although children with burn scars are reported to have positive self-concep
ts, social and sexual maturation can be expected to stimulate anxiety, depr
ession and diminished self-esteem in adolescents with disfiguring scars. Th
is study examines complex self-regard of adolescents with burn scars. The f
ollowing were hypothesized: (1) adolescents with disfiguring burn scars wou
ld view themselves as less competent than unburned normative samples; (2) s
ubjects' perceived competence would be incongruent with the importance ascr
ibed to the domains of physical appearance and athletic competence and (3)
depression/anxiety would correlate negatively with perceived competence. Su
bjects were 14 adolescents: 6 male and 8 female, 13-20 years old, at least
2 years post-burn injury (TBSA=39% +/- 23%). All had scars in at least 2 of
the following areas: head/face, neck, chest, hands, genitals. Each subject
was administered the Harter Self Perception Profile, a standardized measur
e of self-competence and value in 8 domains plus a general competence measu
re. The subjects were also assessed for anxiety/depression by the Child Beh
avioral Checklist. Overall, adolescents in this sample exhibited a similar
or higher degree of self-worth as compared to their peers. However, the ath
letic competence and physical appearance sub-domains of self-worth for the
burn survivors were significantly lower as compared to the normative group.
Half of the participants rated the importance of physical appearance to be
higher than their level of personal competence in this area, making for di
stressing emotions. Mood was similar to the normative group and mood correl
ated significantly with self-worth. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI.
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