Comparative Investigation of Perceptions Between Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis and Their Parents Regarding Body Image and Brace-Related Stress.

The conservative management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) with rigid bracing imposes a significant psychological burden. This study investigated the convergence or divergence of views between female adolescents with AIS and their parents concerning body image and brace-related stress. A cross-sectional study of 50 pairs (n=100) of female adolescents (mean age 14.26±1.77) and one of their parents was conducted. Participants independently completed the Greek versions of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire (GR-BSSQ-Brace) and the Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (GR-SAQ). Parents reported significantly higher brace-related stress than adolescents (p=0.010). While absolute agreement for total scores was moderate (ICC=0.698), item-level agreement was insufficient across all BSSQ items (kappa < 0.40). For body image (SAQ), total scores did not differ significantly, but agreement was poor-to-moderate (ICC=0.460), with parents consistently evaluating specific aesthetic deformities more negatively than the patients themselves (p < 0.05). A distinct perception gap exists, where parents tend to overestimate the psychological distress and aesthetic burden experienced by their children. Clinical management should incorporate targeted parental counseling to align expectations and improve family-centric adherence. Furthermore, the observed lack of agreement underscores the necessity for the development and validation of assessment tools specifically tailored for parents to ensure accurate representation of their perspective.