Self-concept in children with cerebral palsy: is there something in the wind?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare self-concept in four groups of children distinguished by the presence/absence of either a motor impairment (with and without cerebral palsy, CP) or social adjustment problems (victimisation).

METHOD: Four groups were formed: a victimised CP group (n=17), a non-victimised CP group (n=41), a victimised comparison group (n=10) and a non-victimised comparison group (n=46). Self-concept was measured using the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC, Harter The Self-Perception Profile for Children. Unpublished manual. Denver, CO: University of Denver; 1985) during the school visit. Victimisation was obtained by conducting a classwide sociometric interview in the class of the target child.

RESULTS

The results indicate that the groups differ depending on the domain measured.

CONCLUSIONS

By identifying factors that may influence self-concept in children with CP, this study contributes new information to this subject.