School absences, school achievements and personality traits of the haemophilic child.

Cross-sectional comparisons between haemophiliacs and their healthy classmates were made in the years 1971-72 and 1987-88. The more recent set of data indicated no difference in respect to school absenteeism and school achievements between haemophiliacs and classmates in contrast to the older data, which showed such differences. In 1987-1988 the personality of the haemophilic boy was assessed both by teacher-ratings as well as by self-rating scales, and they indicated that the haemophiliacs were self-assured and independent but also less caring, less joyful, less open and more bullied than their healthy classmates. The mildly to moderately affected haemophiliacs tended to have more emotional disturbances than classmates and severely affected haemophiliacs. The latter were the least likely to avoid potentially hazardous activities. The haemophiliac's conflicts about adapting to a restricting chronic disease were elucidated.