Comparing parent and child perceptions of stigmatizing behavior experienced by children with burn scars

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Study compared perceptions of stigmatization experienced by 85 pediatric burn survivors with those of their parents. Among the burn survivors, 38 percent were female, 44 percent had facial scars, and the median number of surgical procedures was two. Survivors and a parent independently completed the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ), rating the frequency that the child experienced three types of stigmatizing behaviors: absence of friendly behavior, confused and staring behavior, and hostile behavior. The sample was divided into a high (top 25 percent) and low (bottom 75 percent) perceived stigmatization groups. Results indicated that the mean ratings of parents did not significantly differ from that of children reporting low stigmatization. The mean PSQ parent ratings were significantly lower than those of children reporting high stigmatization. Additionally, the level of agreement on PSQ subscale scores within child-parent dyads was significantly lower in children reporting high stigmatization relative to child-parent dyads of children reporting low stigmatization. The findings suggest that children surviving burns may experience stigmatization that is under-perceived by their parents.

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