Türkay Demir1, Nurullah Bolat2, Mesut Yavuz1, Gül Karaçetin3, Burak Doğangün1, Levent Kayaalp1. 1. İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, İstanbul, Turkey. 2. Diyarbakır Children Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. 3. Bakırköy Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, İstanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the behavioral problems and the attachment characteristics of children and adolescents with congenital blindness (CB). METHOD: Forty children and adolescents aged 11-14 years with CB were included as the case group. Forty healthy children and adolescents who were matched for age, gender, and socioeconomic status with the case group served as the comparison group. Behavioral problems were assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 4-18 (CBCL 4/18). Attachment characteristics were assessed via the Short Form of Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (s-IPPA). RESULTS: The case group had lower CBCL total problems scores as well as anxiety/depression, withdrawal/depression, and attention problems subscales scores with respect to the comparison group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in s-IPPA scores. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with CB did not differ from the comparison group in terms of attachment, whereas, they had lower scores on behavioral problems than the comparison group. Although previous studies indicate that children and adolescents with CB may be at the risk of insecure attachment, our study suggested that adaptive mechanisms of their families together with professional help from specialized teachers and services provided by schools for children and adolescents with CB may play compensatory roles.
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the behavioral problems and the attachment characteristics of children and adolescents with congenital blindness (CB). METHOD: Forty children and adolescents aged 11-14 years with CB were included as the case group. Forty healthy children and adolescents who were matched for age, gender, and socioeconomic status with the case group served as the comparison group. Behavioral problems were assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 4-18 (CBCL 4/18). Attachment characteristics were assessed via the Short Form of Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (s-IPPA). RESULTS: The case group had lower CBCL total problems scores as well as anxiety/depression, withdrawal/depression, and attention problems subscales scores with respect to the comparison group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in s-IPPA scores. CONCLUSION:Children and adolescents with CB did not differ from the comparison group in terms of attachment, whereas, they had lower scores on behavioral problems than the comparison group. Although previous studies indicate that children and adolescents with CB may be at the risk of insecure attachment, our study suggested that adaptive mechanisms of their families together with professional help from specialized teachers and services provided by schools for children and adolescents with CB may play compensatory roles.