Disfiguring burn scars and adolescent self-esteem

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. All rights reserved.