Social and Emotional Adaptations of Children with Transplanted Kidneys and Chronic Hemodialysis

Fourteen children were studied for social adjustment, emotional status, level of intelligence, and self-concept; five had transplanted kidneys that had been functioning well for periods of two to five years, two others had unsuccessful transplants, and the remaining seven had been on hemodialysis from six months to several years. Results indicated that most of the children had serious social and emotional difficulties. Feelings of social isolation, excessive dependency upon the parents, and depression were common. The authors point out the sources of social and emotional difficulties and make suggestions for avoiding some of them.