Psychologic adjustment after childhood burn injuries as predicted by personality traits.

The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of psychologic adjustment in persons who have survived childhood burn injuries. It was hypothesized that survivors who were well-adjusted psychologically would possess specific personality traits that would differentiate them from their poorly adjusted peers. Thirty-two subjects were given a standardized assessment of psychologic adjustment and a standardized personality inventory. The subjects were assigned to either a "poorly adjusted" group or a "well-adjusted" group, on the basis of each subject's score on a standardized measure of adjustment. There were no significant differences between the two groups in variables of gender, age, time since burn, or age at time of burn injury. The results indicate three personality traits that seem to be related to psychologic adjustment after a severe burn injury in pediatric patients.