Strabismus-related prejudice in 5-6 year-old children
Aims There is a general consensus that individuals with conspicuous strabismus are perceived more negatively with respect to physical appearance, personality and capability. Such social biases can potentially lead to social alienation and negative psychosocial development, particularly when exp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
group.bmj.com
2010
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/268/ http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/268/1/4.pdf |
| Summary: | Aims There is a general consensus that individuals with
conspicuous strabismus are perceived more negatively
with respect to physical appearance, personality and
capability. Such social biases can potentially lead to
social alienation and negative psychosocial development,
particularly when experienced at a young age. This study
aims to explore young children’s perception of peers with
noticeable exotropia.
Methods 128 children, 5e6 years old, took part in this
cross-sectional within-group study. The sample viewed
four paired images of peers with orthotropia and
exotropia, and chose the image they LIKED and the
image they would SHARE their favourite toy with. All
images were created using digital morphing technique.
Results Single proportion tests showed that
a significantly greater proportion of the sample chose the
orthotropic images as the ones they like (z¼5.74,
p<0.001) and the ones they would share their favourite
toy with (z¼4.90, p<0.001). Phi coefficient analysis
further demonstrated an association between the choice
to like and the choice to share (4(504)¼0.34, p<0.001).
Conclusions Children as young as 5 years old are found
to have negative social reactions towards peers with
noticeable exotropia. These findings imply that children
with noticeable strabismus may be subjected to social
alienation at an early age. |
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