This study has attempted to determine the influence of a chronic disease on body image, and to show that body image is directly related to one's self concept.
Body image is the concept of one's own body based on present and past perception, and is related to one's self concept.
Body image is dynamic concept constantly changing throughout the life cycle but it changes greatly in illness, surgery, and accident.
The child with a chronic disease experience pain and immobilization due to illness and he/she experiences a strange environment in the hospital.
Illness often brings feeling of frustration and loss of self-esteem.
Therefore this study was done to compare the body image, self concept of a child with a chronic disease, with that of a normal healthy child, and to determine the relationship between the body image and self concept.
The subjects in this study were 7-12 aged 43 children being treated for chronic illness of university hospital in Taejon(patient group) and 7~12 aged 65 children attending T elementary school in Taejon(normal healthy group)
For the measurement of body image, the researcher used Osgood's Semantic Differential Scale, Secord & Jourard's Body Cathexis Scale.
For the measurement of the self concept, the researcher used Jacox & Stewart's Health self concept.
The period for data collection was from March 9 to October 24, 1992.
The analysis of data was done by use of percentage, T-test, General Linear Modeling, Kruskal-Wallis Test, Pearson Correlation Coefficient.
@ES The results of the study were as follows ;
@EN 1 Comparison of score on body image(Semantic differential scale) between chronically ill child and normal child showed a statistical significant difference(t=-5.765, P<.001).
(chronically ill child M : 3.265, normal child M : 4.062)
Comparison of score on self concept between chronically ill child and normal child showed a statistical significant difference(t=-5.713, P<.001)
(chronically ill child M : 0.565, normal child M : 0.844).
2. The relationship between the body image and the general characteristics of subjects showed as follows ;
In the body image(Semantic differential scale) showed a statistical significant difference according to age in normal child(P<.001).
In the body image(Body cathexis scale) showed a statistical significant difference according to age in normal child(P<.05).
In the body image(Body cathexis scale) showed a statistical significant difference according to diagnosis(P<.05).
3. The correlation between body image and self concept showed as follows ;
Body image(Semantic differential scale) and self concept correlated significant difference in the total group(P<.001), chronically ill child(P<.01), normal child(P<.001).
Body image(Body cathexis scale) and self concept correlated significant difference in the total group(P<.05).
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