Psychological Adjustment of Children Evaluated for Short Stature

Zimet, Gregory D.; Cutler, Margaret G.; Litvene, Marilyn; Dahms, William T.; Owens, Ruth; Cuttler, Leona

doi:10.1097/00004703-199508000-00009

Cited by 53 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…It has even been suggested that the benefits of advancing puberty might outweigh the potential risk of attenuated adult height (27). The evidence, however, is inconclusive (28)(29)(30)(31). One follow-up study of constitutional growth delay revealed that many subjects remained unemployed and economically dependent on their parents as young adults, but that the level of educational attainment had not been seriously affected (32).…”

Section: Ss In the Pediatric Clinicmentioning

confidence: 99%

The psychological burden of short stature: evidence against

Voss

Sandberg

2004

European Journal of Endocrinology

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Short stature, per se, is clearly not a disease, but is commonly perceived to be associated with social and psychological disadvantage. The assumption, widely held by pediatricians that short children are likely to be significantly affected by their stature, has been founded largely on older, poorly designed clinic-based studies and laboratory investigations of beliefs about the association between stature and individual characteristics. In contrast, data from more recent and better designed clinic-and community-based studies show that, in terms of psychosocial functioning, individuals with short stature are largely indistinguishable from their peers, whether in childhood, adolescence or adulthood. Parents and children alike should be reassured by these findings. In the absence of clear pathology, physical or psychological, GH therapy for the short but otherwise normal child raises ethical concerns about so-called 'cosmetic endocrinology'. European Journal of Endocrinology 151 S29-S33

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Section: Ss In the Pediatric Clinicmentioning

confidence: 99%

The psychological burden of short stature: evidence against

Voss

Sandberg

2004

European Journal of Endocrinology

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“…These studies found distinct personality features, lower self-esteem, increased rates of behavior problems, and lower social competence in short-statured children (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). In contrast, there is another small series of studies that found on average normal psychological functioning in their subjects (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). The obvious differences in results may be due to different patient selection, the variety of psychological instruments that were used, and the various informants, including parents, teachers, and the children themselves that were used in the various studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral evaluation of GH treatment in short statured children and adolescents: Findings from a pilot study

Steinhausen

Dörr

Malin

2002

J Endocrinol Invest

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“…There is no evidence, however, to support this. Although delayed puberty may serve as an additional problem in adolescents with SS, the data are inconclusive (40)(41)(42)(43)(44). Most studies seem to confirm few long-term psychological sequelae of early growth delay (45-47).…”

Section: Short Stature In the Paediatric Clinicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is short stature a problem? The psychological view

Voss

2006

eur j endocrinol

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The use of GH in short normal children remains a controversial issue as physicians and parents alike are under continuing pressure to identify and to treat such children. Before asking who might respond to growth-promoting therapy, we should first ask who needs it. Rational intervention assumes some abnormality, physical or psychological, that can be corrected. Where short stature is the result of GH deficiency, the case for intervention is clear and uncontroversial. Where there is no clear deficiency, treatment can be regarded neither as replacement therapy, nor as corrective, but simply cosmetic. However, there might be a case for therapy if there were clear evidence of an association between short stature and psychosocial dysfunction. The common perception that short stature is an inevitable handicap has been founded on unreliable evidence, largely clinic-based studies, where children experiencing the greatest difficulties are likely to be found. Such reports, unless challenged, can only lead to an increasing demand for treatment, both from and for those who were previously unconcerned. The Wessex Growth Study recruited an unselected cohort of short normal children, not from the clinic, but from the community at large, and has challenged the widely held belief that short stature is an inevitable disadvantage. The progress of these children, followed over some 13 years, has given little cause for concern. Indeed, this study, and others subsequently, has demonstrated the normality of the psychosocial functioning of the short normal child. European Journal of Endocrinology 155 S39-S45

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Psychological Adjustment of Children Evaluated for Short Stature

Cited by 53 publications

References 0 publications

The psychological burden of short stature: evidence against

The psychological burden of short stature: evidence against

Behavioral evaluation of GH treatment in short statured children and adolescents: Findings from a pilot study

Is short stature a problem? The psychological view

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