The representation of body self under children suffering from differently-treated chronic pathologies

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Giovanna Perricone, Concetta Polizzi, M. Regina Morales, Francesco De Luca, Carmen Lo Pinto, Lorella Pitrolo, Emanuela Giudice
Publishing Year 2011 Issue 2011/1
Language Italian Pages 15 P. 51-65 File size 685 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2011-001005
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This study deals with the representation of body self in children suffering from differently- treated chronic pathologies, with the aim of exploring likely resources functional to the management of the risk condition brought by pathology. More specifically, the indicators of resources are to be identified, as for their quality, in the adequacy of body image, integrity of self-image in the integration of cognitive maps and, as for their quantity, in the quotient of cognitive maturity. The study planned a group of 52 children at the average age of 10. The 50% of them suffers from chronic pathologies whose treatments are invasive, characterized by constant "practices" on child’s body altering the daily serenity (i.e. transfusions, intravenous catheters, insulin injections, micro-infusions). The other 50% suffers from earth diseases only pharmacologically treated. The survey turned to the Human Figure Drawing. The outcomes, even though showing, in general, the mean levels of adequacy and body integrity, underline statistically significative differences in relation to treatment typology such as children undergoing invasive treatments show higher levels of both adequacy and body integrity. With regards to maturity quotient, instead, there are no differences between the two groups, which highlights the presence of some cognitive resources functional to adjustment to pathology.

Keywords: Body representation, paediatric chronic pathologies, treatments

Giovanna Perricone, Concetta Polizzi, M. Regina Morales, Francesco De Luca, Carmen Lo Pinto, Lorella Pitrolo, Emanuela Giudice, La rappresentazione del sé corporeo in bambini con patologie croniche diversamente trattate in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 1/2011, pp 51-65, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2011-001005