Social-psychological correlates of peer victimization in children with endocrine disorders.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relation between victimization by peers and child and parent reports of social-psychological adjustment.

STUDY DESIGN

The Social Experience Questionnaire, Children's Depression Inventory, Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised, and Asher Loneliness Scale were administered to 93 children diagnosed with various endocrine disorders. The child's parent/guardian completed the Child Behavior Checklist.

RESULTS

For the entire sample, peer victimization was positively related to child-reported depression, social anxiety, loneliness, and parent-reported externalizing symptoms. Those children with endocrine disorders without observable features had a stronger relation between peer victimization and depression and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems than did those who had endocrine disorders with observable physical features.

CONCLUSIONS

Recognition of the magnitude of the problem and means of evaluating for peer victimization is important for clinicians who see children with chronic diseases.