Kufoof Tamara, Saad Randa K, Al-Ghawanmeh Redab, Sawaqed Seri, Hamdan Zaid, Qolaghasi Zaid, Alswiti Adnan, Sharkas Layan, Sharkas Osama
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Research and Policy, Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman, Jordan.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025 Aug 25;16:1630919. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1630919. eCollection 2025.
Short stature is associated with psychological and emotional challenges, yet its impact on children's behavioral well-being in Jordan remains underexplored. This study examines the association between short stature and behavioral and emotional difficulties in Jordanian children.
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Prince Hamza Hospital, Amman (2023-2024). We recruited eighty-three children aged 4-14 years with a height percentile ≤3%. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) assessed behavioral and emotional difficulties. Differences in SDQ scores by gender, age group, and growth hormone (GH) therapy status were analyzed.
The mean total difficulties score was 13.7 ± 6.1, with 30.1% of participants classified in the "high" or "very high" category. Emotional difficulties (31.3%), peer problems (31.3%), and conduct issues (34.9%) were notably prevalent. Boys exhibited significantly higher conduct problems (p < 0.001), hyperactivity (p = 0.002), and total difficulties scores (p = 0.010), while girls showed stronger prosocial behaviors (p = 0.004). No significant differences were observed between younger (3-10 years) and older (11-14 years) children. Children receiving GH therapy reported significantly higher emotional problems (p = 0.029), though other SDQ scores did not differ significantly between treated and untreated groups.
Short stature in Jordanian children is associated with significant behavioral and emotional challenges, particularly among boys. GH therapy was not associated with improved scores in this sample. A multidisciplinary approach integrating psychological support and public health initiatives is needed to address stigma and improve well-being.
身材矮小与心理和情绪方面的挑战相关，但在约旦，其对儿童行为健康的影响仍未得到充分研究。本研究探讨约旦儿童身材矮小与行为及情绪问题之间的关联。
于安曼的哈姆扎王子医院开展了一项横断面研究（2023 - 2024年）。我们招募了83名4至14岁、身高百分位数≤3%的儿童。采用长处与困难问卷（SDQ）评估行为和情绪问题。分析了按性别、年龄组和生长激素（GH）治疗状态划分的SDQ得分差异。
平均总困难得分是13.7±6.1，30.1%的参与者被归类为“高”或“非常高”类别。情绪问题（31.3%）、同伴问题（31.3%）和品行问题（34.9%）尤为普遍。男孩表现出显著更高的品行问题（p < 0.001）、多动（p = 0.002）和总困难得分（p = 0.010），而女孩表现出更强的亲社会行为（p = 0.004）。在年幼（3至10岁）和年长（11至14岁）儿童之间未观察到显著差异。接受GH治疗的儿童报告有显著更高的情绪问题（p = 0.029），不过治疗组和未治疗组之间的其他SDQ得分无显著差异。
约旦儿童身材矮小与显著的行为和情绪挑战相关，尤其是在男孩中。在本样本中，GH治疗与得分改善无关。需要一种整合心理支持和公共卫生举措的多学科方法来消除耻辱感并改善健康状况。
