Peer relationships and emotional well-being of children with sickle cell disease: a controlled replication

Child Neuropsychol. 2007 Mar;13(2):173-87. doi: 10.1080/09297040500473706.

Abstract

We completed a replication study examining the social and emotional functioning of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who have not had an overt stroke and a group of demographically similar comparison classmates based upon data from multiple informants. Relative to comparison peers, children with SCD were described by teachers as more prosocial and less aggressive. Peers described them as having fewer friends, less athletic, ill more often, and missing more school. No group differences were identified for emotional well-being. Effect size analyses indicated that this study replicated a number of findings from our previous study of children with SCD (Noll et al., 1996). Findings from both studies suggest relative psychological hardiness among children with SCD who have not had an overt stroke.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adolescent
  • Affective Symptoms / diagnosis
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology*
  • Aggression / psychology
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / diagnosis
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / psychology*
  • Child
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Peer Group*
  • Personality Assessment
  • Reference Values
  • Sick Role*
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Environment
  • Sociometric Techniques