The burned child--scarred for life? A study of the psychosocial impact of a burn injury at different developmental stages.
Several studies examining the psychosocial adjustment of child burn victims have resulted in contradictory conclusions, possibly because of their diverse methodology and poorly defined outcome measures. Using a standardized behaviour rating scale this study found that adolescent burn victims show a markedly poorer psychosocial adjustment when compared with younger burned children. Visible burns, emotional distress in the mother, and multiple home moves were all associated with poorer psychosocial adjustment in adolescence for burned children.