Published online September 1, 2004
PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 3 September 2004, pp. 744-750 (doi:10.1542/peds.2003-1169-L)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (18)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sandberg, D. E.
Right arrow Articles by Noll, R. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sandberg, D. E.
Right arrow Articles by Noll, R. B.
Related Collections
Right arrow Office Practice

Height and Social Adjustment: Are Extremes a Cause for Concern and Action?

David E. Sandberg, PhD*,{ddagger}, William M. Bukowski, PhD§, Caroline M. Fung, PA-C* and Robert B. Noll, PhD||

* Departments of Psychiatry
{ddagger} Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
§ Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
|| Child Development Unit, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Objective. Growth hormone treatment of hormone-sufficient short youths is predicated on the belief that short stature is associated with social problems with peers. This study assessed peer relations and social adjustment as a function of height in a community sample.

Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 1 public school district in Western New York of students of both genders who attended grades 6 to 12 (N = 956). Target groups included participants of short stature (height ≤–1.6 standard deviation, ie, ≤5th percentile for age- and gender-adjusted population norms; n = 68) and tall stature (≥1.6 standard deviation; ≥95th percentile; n = 58) and classmates of average height (between the 25th and 75th percentiles; n = 123) used for within-class comparisons. All remaining unclassified classmates (n = 704) also provided data. Self- and peer-rated assessment of social reputation and social acceptance was measured.

Results. Minimal effects of height on measures of social functioning were detected despite substantial statistical power. We detected no significant relationships between height and measures of friendship, popularity, or reputation with peers. Findings did not vary by gender of participant, by peer- or self-report, or by whether data from the entire sample were used or target groups were contrasted with comparison participants. Shorter students were perceived by peers to be younger than their age. This influence was restricted to lower grades and did not have an impact on measures of social acceptance or reputation with peers.

Conclusions. Extremes of stature in the general population—either short or tall—have minimal detectable impact on peer perceptions of social behavior, friendship, or acceptance. Findings are not supportive of the need to intervene a priori because of the potential risk of negative stature-related social sequelae. Furthermore, if problems with peer relationships are identified among short or tall youths, then factors other than stature should be considered as etiologically important.

Key Words: short stature • growth hormone • peer relations • social adjustment

Abbreviations: SS, short stature • GH, growth hormone • TS, tall stature

Accepted Apr 26, 2004.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
L. Dunkel
Management of children with idiopathic short stature
Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 155(suppl_1): S35 - S38.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
L. D Voss
Is short stature a problem? The psychological view
Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 155(suppl_1): S39 - S45.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
D. B. Allen
Growth Hormone Therapy for Short Stature: Is the Benefit Worth the Burden?
Pediatrics, July 1, 2006; 118(1): 343 - 348.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
H Visser-van Balen, G Sinnema, and R Geenen
Growing up with idiopathic short stature: psychosocial development and hormone treatment; a critical review.
Arch. Dis. Child., May 1, 2006; 91(5): 433 - 439.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
D G Gill
"Anything you can do, I can do bigger?": the ethics and equity of growth hormone for small normal children.
Arch. Dis. Child., March 1, 2006; 91(3): 270 - 272.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
L. Cuttler
Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Treatment for Idiopathic Short Stature
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2005; 90(9): 5502 - 5504.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 BMJHome page
R. Viner
Adolescent development: Author's reply
BMJ, April 2, 2005; 330(7494): 789 - 789.
[Full Text]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
S. F. Kemp
Height and Social Adjustment
Pediatrics, February 1, 2005; 115(2): 515 - 516.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
W. M. Bukowski, R. B. Noll, C. Fung, and D. E. Sandberg
Height and Social Adjustment: In Reply
Pediatrics, February 1, 2005; 115(2): 516 - 517.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 AAP Grand RoundsHome page
S. Varma
Growth Hormone Effects on Adult Height in Idiopathic Short Stature
AAP Grand Rounds, January 1, 2005; 13(1): 2 - 3.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JWatch GeneralHome page
Does Short Stature in Children Have Social Consequences?
Journal Watch (General), September 21, 2004; 2004(921): 6 - 6.
[Full Text]