THE SELF-CONCEPT OF THE ADOLESCENT SUFFERING FROM TOURETTE'S SYNDROME

Abstract

Abstract Tourette's Syndrome (TS) is regarded as a lifelong spectrum syndrome which is found world wide, across all geographical, ethnic and cultural barriers. This neuropsychiatric disorder that is in all likelihood genetically determined, is associated with neurotransmitter (“chemical”) imbalance, causing motor and vocal tics, as well as associated problems, affecting the person in his complete ecosystem, namely his family, school and society. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the self-concept of the adolescent TS-sufferer differed significantly from the self-concept of the adolescent who does not suffer from TS. Significant differences were found between the adolescent who suffers from TS and the adolescent who does not suffer from TS, regarding his non-academic self-concept, academic self-concept and global self-concept. The study has highlighted significant self-concept differences, which may have implications for the adolescent TS-sufferer in his whole ecosystem.