Article

PURPOSE: To compare three dimensions of social adjustment (social status,
friendship and victimization) across four groups of children between the ages of
nine and 12 who differ by their birth status (premature vs. at term) and the
presence or absence of a motor impairment (with and without cerebral palsy [CP]).
METHOD: All premature (n = 72) and term children (n = 118) without CP and all
children with CP (premature with CP: n = 49; term with CP: n = 29) are part of a
follow-up study. Social adjustment measures were obtained by conducting a
classwide sociometric interview in the class of the target child. RESULTS:
Irrespective of their birth status, girls with CP have more social adjustment
problems than those without a disability. With respect to victimization, the
results show that, irrespective of gender, both CP children and premature
children (without CP) differ from their term peers (without CP). CONCLUSIONS: By
comparing the four groups, we are able to qualify the impact of a visible
clinical impairment such as CP versus that of extreme prematurity on social
adjustment.

Langue : ANGLAIS