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Body experiences, emotional competence, and psychosocial functioning in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

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Abstract

We investigated self-image, psychological functioning, and quality of life in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Thirty-nine children with JIA were compared with 80 healthy peers. We first administered the Human Figure Drawing Test (HFDT) to all subjects; children also completed standardized questionnaires evaluating health-related quality of life (PEDSQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales) and the main aspects of psychological functioning: anxiety (SAFA-A) and depression (CDI). Parents were asked to complete the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and the PEDSQL™ 4.0. For each patient with JIA, clinical notes were gathered and a global disease assessment (visual analog scale––VAS) was performed. Compared to healthy peers, patients with JIA reported reduced maturity quotients at HFDT, more depressive traits, greater anxiety, and lower health-related quality of life. Among the subjects with JIA, HFDT revealed that adolescents had a greater impairment in all areas investigated. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the physical well-being rated by VAS and the perception of poorer quality of life in patients, mostly in the psychosocial domains. Children and adolescents with JIA exhibit emotional difficulties and a delay of psychological development leading to low self-esteem, a distorted self-image, more anxiety and depression traits, and a worse quality of life, when compared to healthy subjects.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milan Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900, Monza, Italy

    Monica Bomba, Silvia Oggiano, Francesca Neri & Renata Nacinovich

  2. Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology Unit, Pediatric Clinic, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Antonella Meini, Marco Cattalini & Alessandro Plebani

  3. Unit of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Anna Molinaro & Elisa Fazzi

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  1. Monica Bomba
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  2. Antonella Meini
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  9. Renata Nacinovich
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Correspondence to Monica Bomba.

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Bomba, M., Meini, A., Molinaro, A. et al. Body experiences, emotional competence, and psychosocial functioning in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Rheumatol Int 33, 2045–2052 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-013-2685-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-013-2685-4

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