Piers-Harris Self Research Articles

Thalassemia patients in transfussion dependent period and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: how are the psychiatric status and life quality of these patients?

Although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been widely used to treat patients with beta-thalassemia major, evidence showing whether this treatment improves mental health, self esteem and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is limited. We aimed to describe psychiatric problems, HRQoL and self-esteem scores of patients who have thalassemia and compared with patients who underwent HSCT in the current study. A total of 24 patients with thalassemia major and 13 patients who underwent HSCT at least 2 years ago aged between 7-37 years were included. We used The Children’s Depression Inventory, The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Pediatric Quality of LifeTM (PedsQL™) for assesment of children and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) for assessment of adults. We also used Piers Harris Self Concept Scale for children and adults. Psychopathologies are common in both groups (50% in Thalassemia group and 69.2% in HSCT group). Popularity scores in Piers Haris scale of patients in HSCT group were significantly higher compared to thalassemia group (p = 0.03). Additionally, HSCT group had higher scores in physical health subscales of HRQoL in both children and parents’(p = 0.02, p = 0.03 respectively). Our findings suggest improved HRQoL and self-esteem in thalassemia patients after HSCT. However, due to the high prevalence of mental disorders in both groups, we would like to emphasize that clinicians should examine not only the physical but also the psychological state of the patients with thalessemia during the their treatment and follow-up period after HSCT.

Akılcı Duygusal Davranışçı Yaklaşımına Dayalı Özgüven Geliştirme Programının 7. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Özgüven Düzeylerine Etkisi

Amaç: Akılcı Duygusal Davranışçı Terapi Yaklaşımına Dayalı Özgüven Geliştirme Programının 7. sınıf öğrencilerinin özgüven düzeyi üzerine etkisinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda deney ve kontrol grubunda yer alan katılımcıların özgüven puanlarının anlamlı düzeyde değişip değişmediği incelenmiştir.Yöntem: Ön-test son-test ölçümlü deney ve kontrol gruplu deneysel desen kullanılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın katılımcılarını, 8 deney ve 8 kontrol grubunda olmak üzere toplam 16 7. sınıf öğrencisi oluşturmuştur. Altmış ila doksan dakikalık oturumlardan oluşan program, deney grubundaki katılımcılarla yedi hafta süreyle yürütülmüştür. Piers-Harris Öz Kavram ölçeği kullanılmıştır.Bulgular: Araştırma sonucunda, programın deney grubundaki katılımcıların özgüven puanları üzerinde anlamlı düzeyde bir artış sağladığı bulunmuştur. Deney grubunda yer alan öğrencilerin ön test puan ortalamaları 46.62, son test puan ortalaması ise 53.87’dir. Man Whitney U testi sonuçlarına göre deney ve kontrol grubundaki öğrencilerin özgüven puanları arasında anlamlı farklılık olduğu görülmektedir. Wilcoxon testi analiz sonuçları, araştırmaya katılan öğrencilerin Piers Harris ölçeğinden aldıkları deney öncesi ve sonrası puanları arasında son test puanı lehine anlamlı bir fark olduğunu göstermektedir.Sonuçlar ve Öneriler: Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgular incelendiğinde Akılcı duygusal davranışçı terapiye dayalı özgüven geliştirme programının öğrencilerin özgüven düzeyini geliştirmede etkili olduğu görülmektedir. Bu sonuç doğrultusunda bu programın içeriği ebeveyn ve öğretmeni de içerecek şekilde genişletilebilir. Özgüven geliştirmeye yönelik hazırlanan program okul psikolojik danışmanları tarafından kullanılabilir. Yapılacak diğer çalışmalarda boylamsal çalışmalar gerçekleştirilebilir.

Assessment of a Health Promotion Model on Obese Turkish Children.

Studies of childhood obesity have shown that fostering healthy life behaviors is more important than losing weight. However, studies reporting this result did not use a theoretical nursing model, which offers a systematic approach and scientific basis for studying the concepts and principles of nursing practice. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an intervention that is based on Nola J. Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) on the healthy life behaviors and self-confidence of obese children. This quasi-experimental study enrolled 86 obese children and their parents (48 in the experimental group and 38 in the control group) as participants. The data collection tool was composed of an adaptation of a Pender's model-based evaluation form and the "Piers-Harris Self Confidence Scale." The experimental group received HPM-based individual and group education, whereas the control group received routine follow-up only. Whereas qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, quantitative data were analyzed using a paired t test and Mann-Whitney U or Wilcoxon test. At the end of the education and follow-up program, experimental group participants showed a significant increase in healthy eating habits such as noting food portions (Z = 5.231, p < .001) and choosing water instead of sugary drinks (Z = 4.130, p < .001) and spent significantly less time per day in front of a television or computer (Z = 5.085, p < .001). Furthermore, after the intervention, experimental group participants had reduced their total body mass index standard deviation score (Z = 6.031, p < .001) and had an average self-confidence score that differed significantly from the control group (Z = 3.796, p < .001) and that was significantly higher than the average preintervention score (Z = 5.971, p < .01). Health professionals must recognize the physical, psychological, and social risks of obesity in children and focus on these problems to identify appropriate solutions. It is recommended that education and nursing follow-up programs be developed based on nursing models. This study found that patient education based on Pender's HPM increased healthy life behaviors (e.g., healthy nutrition and increased exercise time) and decreased sedentary activity substantially in the experimental group. This study further suggests that, although Pender's HPM has not been tested on obese children, this model offers effective guidelines for nursing activities that are targeted on developing healthy life behaviors in children.

Androgen Treatment Effects on Motor Function, Cognition, and Behavior in Boys with Klinefelter Syndrome

To examine the effects of early low-dose androgen on motor, cognitive, and behavioral function in prepubertal boys with Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY). Double-blind trial of 84 boys, ages 4-12 years, randomized to oxandrolone (Ox; 0.06?mg/kg daily; n?=?43) or placebo (Pl; n?=?41) for 24 months. Standardized assessments were performed at baseline and every 12 months for 24 months evaluating motor, cognitive, and behavioral function. The 24-month outcomes were better in the Ox vs. Pl group on 1 of 5 primary endpoints (motor function/strength): Bruininks Visual-Motor scale (P?=?.005), without significant differences between the 2 groups for the other 4 components. Secondary analyses suggested improvement in the Ox vs. Pl group in the anxiety/depression (P?=?.03) and social problems (P?=?.01) scales on the Child Behavior Checklist, anxiety (P?=?.04) on the Piers Harris Self Concept Scale, and interpersonal problems (P?=?.02) on the Children's Depression Inventory, without significant differences in hyperactive or aggressive behaviors. This double-blind, randomized trial demonstrates that 24 months of childhood low-dose androgen treatment in boys with Klinefelter syndrome benefited 1 of 5 primary endpoints (visual-motor function). Secondary analyses demonstrated positive effects of androgen on aspects of psychosocial function (anxiety, depression, social problems), without significant effects on cognitive function, or hyperactive or aggressive behaviors. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00348946.

Self-concept and social comparison and their relation with smoking and alcohol consumption in adolescents

Some attitudes that possess certain risks such as smoking and alcohol consumption rate are increasing among the adolescent age group. For this reason it is very important to shape the attitudes of adolescents during their growth period. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of social comparison and self-concept of adolescents' relation with smoking and alcohol consumption. Study was conducted as a prospective study in nine high schools which are located in city of Bursa, Turkey. Nine hundred and fifty-three (n=953) students were included. Data were gathered using a questionnaire form especially developed by researchers for this study according to relevant literature. For social comparison and self-concept evaluation Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale and Social Comparison Scale of Gilbert were used. The mean age was 15.74±1.27 and 411 of cases (43.1%) were male. It was determined that smoking and alcohol consumption increased as the age of adolescents' age increases. Rate of smoking and alcohol consumption was significantly higher in males compared to females. The mean self-concept scale score of the cases who smoke (52.30±11.01) were found to be lower than the non-smokers (56.07±10.13). The mean social comparison scale score of smoking adolescents' (70.25±23.99) was higher than the non-smokers (69.43±25.47). The social comparison scale scores were found to be higher in adolescents who consume alcohol and smoke tobacco. In contrast to this result self-concept scale scores were low. As a conclusion this study reveals that attitudes such as smoking and alcohol consumption are mostly influenced by self-concept of the adolescents and family attitudes towards adolescents.

Are children's psychological self‐concepts predictive of their self reported activity preferences and leisure participation?

Participation in leisure and play activities is recognised as an important outcome in occupational therapy for children. To investigate whether children's psychological self-concept are predictive of their activity preferences and leisure participation. A group of 38 healthy children aged 10-14 years from Victoria, Australia completed the Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale (Piers Harris-2) and the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment/Preferences for Activities of Children (CAPE/PAC). Correlation and regression analyses were completed to investigate the predictive relationships between the Pier Harris-2 and the CAPE/PAC. The Piers Harris-2 Intellectual and School Status subscale was found to be predictive of children's Overall Enjoyment of Participation as measured on the CAPE, explaining 21.9% of the total variance (β = 0.566, P < 0.01). The Piers Harris-2 Freedom from Anxiety subscale made a unique contribution to children's preferences for skill-based activities as measured by the PAC, explaining 18.9% of the total variance (β = -.435, P < 0.01). Children's gender accounted for 22.7% of the total variance of the PAC Physical Activities subscale (β = -.476, P ≤ 0.01) and 14.6% of the PAC Preferences for Skill-Based Activities subscale (β = 0.382, P ≤ 0.05) while age made unique contributions to the PAC Social Activities subscale (β = -0.418, P ≤ 0.01) explaining 17.5% of its total variance. This study provides evidence that children's psychological self-concept, age and gender are predictive of components of children's activity preferences and leisure participation. In particular, participation enjoyment is influenced by their perceived self-esteem and how well they do at school. Further investigation of this topic is recommended.

Childhood obesity and co‐morbid problems: effects of Epstein's family‐based behavioural treatment in an Icelandic sample

This study assessed the effects of Epstein's family-based behavioural treatment in a clinical sample of obese children in Iceland. Also, it explored whether co-morbid concerns affect treatment outcome. Eighty-four obese children [mean body-mass-index standard-deviation-scores (BMI-SDS) = 3.11, aged 7.5-13.6 years] and a participating parent initiated treatment in response to a school-based screening. Sixty-one families completed treatment and were followed for 1 year post treatment. Measurements included height, weight, reports of psychological well-being (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, Children's Depression Inventory, Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale, Social Skills Rating System) and academic competencies. Among treatment completers a large effect size was obtained for change in BMI-SDS during treatment (mean difference = -0.40, SD = 0.29). Psychological well-being improved and treatment effects were maintained at 1-year follow-up. At baseline, 69% of the children presented with one or more co-morbid concerns. Children who scored above cut-off for concern on parent-reported hyperactivity (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire subscale T-score ≥ 65) reduced their BMI-SDS less during treatment than children with lower hyperactivity scores whereas children who scored in the clinical range for social anxiety (Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children subscale T-score ≥ 65) reduced their BMI-SDS significantly more than children with lower social anxiety scores. The social anxiety effect was still present at 1-year follow-up, but not the hyperactivity effect (P > 0.05). No differential response was shown for children with higher depression scores, lower self-concept or low academic competencies. Epstein's family-based behavioural treatment produced promising effects in both the short and the longer term in a clinical sample of Icelandic children with substantial rates of co-morbid concerns. Co-morbid problems affect outcome and tailoring treatment to address co-morbid concerns might improve outcomes for certain subgroups.

Temperament and Happiness in Children

The relation between temperament and happiness was assessed in 311 children aged 9–12. Parents rated their children’s temperament using the Emotionality, Activity, and Sociability Temperament Survey (EAS) and rated their children’s happiness. Children rated their own temperament using the EAS and the Piers–Harris Self Concept Scale for Children Second Edition, and they rated their own happiness using a single-item measure, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire Short Form, and the Subjective Happiness Scale. Parents’ and children’s temperament ratings conformed to the four factor structure proposed by Buss and Plomin(Temperament: Early developing personality traits, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, 1984) supporting the use of children’s self-reports as an additional measure of temperament. Temperament accounted for between 9 and 29% of the variance in children’s happiness depending on the measures. Children who were more social and active, and less shy, emotional, and anxious were happier. These results parallel the well-established relation between happiness and personality in adults; temperament traits akin to extraversion (Sociability) were positively associated with happiness whereas traits akin to neuroticism (Emotionality) were negatively associated with happiness. Additionally, children who were rated higher in the temperament trait Activity were happier.

Auto conceito e imagem corporal em crianças obesas

Este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever o que pensam crianças obesas sobre seus corpos. Para tanto o delineamento metodológico incluiu um grupo de obesos e outro de não obesos. As crianças responderam a dois instrumentos que tocam nessas questões de forma sistematizada - Escala Piers Harris de Auto-Conceito e Eating Behviours and Body Image Test. O grupo de crianças obesas era composto por 14 meninas e 13 meninos, com idades entre 10 a 12 anos e índice de massa corporal variando de P85 a P95 ou acima; o de não obesas era composto por 15 meninas e 12 meninos, com a mesma faixa etária e índice de massa corporal entre P5 a P&lt;85. Os resultados mostraram que as crianças obesas estão mais insatisfeitas com seu corpo e aparência. Entretanto, elas identificam em si características físicas positivas e outros atributos pessoais. Embora menos preocupadas, as crianças não obesas também manifestam insatisfação, possivelmente devido às pressões culturais sobre a aparência física.

Investigation of tactile defensiveness and self‐esteem in typically developing children

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between tactile defensiveness and self‐esteem in typical children attending a state school. Thirty‐two children aged 8–11 were administered the Touch Inventory for Elementary School Aged Children to measure tactile defensiveness, and the Piers Harris Self Concept Scale to measure self‐esteem. A Spearman rank order correlation coefficient revealed a negative correlation (−0.429) which was statistically significant (p=0.014). These findings suggest that there is an inverse relationship between self‐esteem and behaviours associated with tactile defensiveness in elementary‐school‐aged children. Continued research in this area is recommended. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.

Self-esteem, social competence and psychopathology in boys without friends

Very little is known about relationships between children's self-reported self-esteem and their behavior. In order to evaluate this relationship, the Piers-Harris Self Concept (PHS) Scale was administered to 59 non-psychotic boys referred to an outpatient children's social skills program. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach & Edelbrock, 1983) was administered to the mother and the Pupil Evaluation Inventory (PEI; Pekarik, Prinz, Liebert, Weintraub & Neil, 1976) to the teacher. Social competence, as reflected in CBCL and PEI measures, and externalizing behavior, as measured by the CBCL Externalizing Behavior scale were positively related to self-esteem. Relationships to conceptions of self-esteem and implications for assessment of treatment outcome were discussed.

Oxandrolone Therapy in Constitutionally Delayed Growth and Puberty

Background. Male adolescents with constitutional delay of growth and puberty may have significant psychosocial difficulties related to their sexual immaturity and short stature. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that 1 year of oxandrolone therapy would increase growth velocity and thereby improve psychosocial functioning in boys with constitutional delay of growth and pubertal development. Methods. Forty boys (ages 11 to 14.7 years) with delayed pubertal development and short stature were recruited from the pediatric endocrine clinics of 14 medical centers. The boys were randomized using a block design stratified for age to receive either oxandrolone (0.1 mg/kg daily for 1 year) or an identical-appearing placebo tablet, using a double-masked design. Results. Growth velocity in the oxandrolone-treated boys was significantly greater than in the control boys (9.5 vs 6.8 cm/y). Likewise, the mean height SD score increased 0.41 in the oxandrolone group, whereas it decreased 0.03 in the control group. Those in the oxandrolone group gained 2.4 kg more than those in the placebo group. Mean predicted adult heights did not change in either group. The mean rates of pubertal progression were equivalent in both groups. Self-image (Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale) and social competence (Child Behavior Profile) were normal at baseline in both groups and did not change significantly over the course of the study in either group. No complications of oxandrolone therapy were identified. Conclusions. This randomized, placebo-controlled trial demonstrates that low-dose oxandrolone can increase both height and weight velocity in boys with delayed puberty safely. Under the conditions of this study, however, the increased growth velocity in the oxandrolone-treated boys was not associated with a greater improvement in psychosocial status compared with the control boys.

Therapeutic recreation programmes for children with epilepsy

Amongst children with epilepsy, research has shown that most have a negative self-concept and consequently a low level of self-esteem. This elusive concept of the self is constantly being assessed and reassessed by each child throughout the process of social development. Early literature has suggested that children with disabilities, especially chronic medical or biological disabilities, typified by epilepsy and diabetes, are more susceptible to the development of psychopathology and negative self-concepts. This paper reports that intervention in the form of therapeutic recreation programmes can help rectify this problem of negative self-concept and low self-esteem in children with epilepsy. The Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale, a Self Report Inventory on six dimensions of self-concept, was assessed both pre- and post-therapeutic recreational intervention to show significant improvement in the child's self-concept and acceptance of their epilepsy. Educational components within the programme have demonstrated significant learning and increased treatment compliance--particularly with long-term medications. The Adolescent Psychosocial Seizure Inventory, an adolescent version of the Washington Psycho-Social Seizure Inventory (WPSI), both of which have been validated as a reliable clinical assessment for use in Australia, has provided further evidence to suggest that improvements occur in children's self-concept as a consequence of therapeutic recreation, however use of this protocol appears limited to adolescents over the age of 13 years.

Physical Fitness Effects on Substance Abuse Risk Factors and Use Patterns

In this study, seventy-four adolescents in either a school, community or hospital based drug intervention program received and eight to nine week structured fitness activity class as an integrated element of their respective prevention or treatment program. Prepost assessments indicated significant gains in the field fitness tests of one mile run, 1 minute situp, 1 minute pushup, percent fat and flexibility for the total sample. Based upon prepost change on the one mile run time (less than 1:00) subjects were categorized as improvers (n = 38) and non-improvers (n = 36). Improvers demonstrated a significant increase in the self concept risk factor (Piers Harris Self Concept Scale) and a significant decrease in anxiety and depression risk factors (General Well-Being Scale) compared to the non-improvers. At posttest, the improvers self reported substance use patterns were significantly lower compared to the non-improvers for percentage of the sample who were multiple drug users and alcohol uses per week and were significantly higher for the percentage of the sample demonstrating total abstinence. These findings are suggestive of the usefulness of physical training as a supplemental intervention for adolescent substance abusers.

Cross-Cultural Standardization of TEMAS in Three Hispanic Subcultures

Mental health clinical services research has stressed the urgency of developing culture-sensitive instruments for psychological assessment and psychodiagnosis of ethnic, racial, and linguistic minority children. The TEMAS (Tell-Me-A-Story) test is an apperception test depicting Hispanic and Black characters (minority version) or White characters (nonminority version) interacting in urban settings and expressing culturally oriented themes, and is scored for cognitive, affective, and personality functioning. This study compared the normative profiles, the reliability, and the criterion-related validity of TEMAS with school and clinical children from three different Hispanic cultures: Puerto Ricans in New York City, natives of SanJuan, PuertoRico, andSouthAmericans inBuenos Aires, Argentina. Children in New York and Puerto Rico were administered 23 minority TEMAS cards, the Spielberger Trait-Anxiety Scale for Children, and the Piers-Harris Self ConceptScale. Argentinean children were administered 10 TEMAS cards, the nonminority short form, and the Piers-Harris scale. Results of the study support the use of TEMAS with examinees in the three cultures, but also suggest that some TEMAS cards do not pull the designatedpersonality functions as consistently with native Puerto Rican andArgentinean children. The findings point to the need to revise selected TEMAS cards to be culture specific.

A note on the use of two self-esteem inventories with Australian schoolchildren

In a study concerned with the integration of disabled students into regular schools, a large number of normal Australian schoolchildren were measured on both the Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Data from the former validate the norms published in the July 1985 issue of the Australian Psychologist while results from the latter provide mean grade values for children from grades 2 through 10. A caveat is also issued regarding the psychometric properties of the Coopersmith Inventory as a measure of self-esteem.

A Comparison of Maternal, Paternal, and Joint Custody:

Forty-three families with either maternal, paternal, or joint custody were studied, an average of 3.5 years after divorce. Most of the 91 children in the sample were not maladjusted, and their adjustment was independent of custody type. Where parents remained embattle after divorce, children had significantly lower scores on the Piers Harris Self Concept Test, and on parent's ratings of their adjustment. Children in joint custody retained filial relationships with both parents, as opposed to the avuncular relationships they developed with non-custodial at its best is superior to single parent custody at its best. However, the author cautions against a legal presumption for the joint award, and discusses some contraindications to its use.

The piers-harris children's self concept scale: An australian study

The Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale was administered to 100 children (50 boys and 50 girls) in each of the age groups between 8 to 15 years inclusive (N = 800 children). Data were analysed by principal components and iterative factor analysis. The results suggested that of the two analytic procedures the iterative procedure presented a comparatively clearer factor structure. It was concluded that the factors that seem to hold the most promise as diagnostic tools for clinical and counselling settings are: behaviour; intellectual and school status; physical appearance and attributes; anxiety; and, popularity.

Teaching Recreational Skills to Handicapped Youths with Video Modeling and Peer Tutoring

A video-tape modeling and peer counseling program was utilized to teach recreational skills to younger handicapped youths and employment skills to adolescent handicapped youths. Twelve video tapes were developed to teach the adolescent youths (trainer) job skills relevant to both the specific job and general skills relevant to generic jobs. The trainers then used 29 recreational video tapes to teach the younger children (trainees) specific recreational skills. Resuts indicated that, as a function of video tape modeling and peer tuspring, trainees spent approximately 80% of their time engaged in talk specific (i.e., tape-modeled) behavior. Trainers evidenced significant increases in rated behavioral scales over the 12 week course of the study. Additionally, trainers scored significantly higher than randomly matched controls on a Job Skills Inventory (JSI) over the course of the study. Predicted similar differences in self-concept, as measured by the Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale for Children, were not obtained. Results were discussed in terms of the practicality of using video tape as a means to teach recreational and job skills to handicapped youths.