Social competence in children with IDDM and asthma: child, teacher, and parent reports of children's social adjustment, social performance, and social skills.

Abstract

Used Cavell's (1990) model of childhood social competence to compare the social competence in peer relations of 25 children (ages 8-10 years) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), 19 children with asthma, and 24 physically healthy children. Children were individually matched for economic status, race, gender, and age. Children, their parents, and their teachers completed measures of children's social adjustment, social performance, and social skills in peer relations. Contrary to hypotheses, no differences between the groups of children were noted on any of the measures of social competence. Results are discussed in terms of the resiliency of children's social competence to these chronic conditions.