• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.252-261
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• 2000

Objectivity：This study was conducted to examine the depression, self-concept, perception of stress & coping strategy in children with chronic physical illness. Methods：Two groups of participants were recruited for this study, 13 children with chronic illness in outpatient or inpatient treatment at Seoul National University Children's Hospital, and 13 nonpatient children. They were assessed using Korean form of the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale (PHSCS), Kovacs' Children's Depression Inventory(CDI) and three subscaleds('color how you feel' 'color how others make you feel' 'A children in the rain' of Children's Self-Report and Projective Inventory(CSRPI). Result：There were significant differences between the chronic ill children and the healthy children in scores of depression and self-concept. The chronicity ill children were more depressive and had very negative self-concept, and obtained significantly lower scores than the healthy children in the subscales of PHSCS, 'intellectual/school status' and 'popularity' Among three scales of CSRPI, there was no difference in 'color how you feel' and 'color how others make you feel' But there were significant differences in all items of 'A child in the rain'(quantity of raining, duration of raining, tool, and effectiveness). 'Duration of raining' correlated most negatively with PHSCS scores, and correlated positively with CDI scores. Conclusion：The children with chronic illness are more depressive and have very negative selfconcept. And they feel that the stresses are more permanent, but have no appropriate coping strategy. The results suggest that the chronic illness strongly affects the psychological and emotional adjustment of children(i.e. depression, peer relation, stress coping strategy).