The effect of strabismus on a young child's selection of a playmate.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the effect of strabismus on a child's playmate selection.


METHODS
Photographs of orthotropic children aged 3-6 years were altered to simulate various magnitudes of strabismus. The pictures were arranged in pairs, one orthotropic child and one with strabismus. One hundred children aged 3-8 years viewed the photographs and were asked to select a playmate from each pair.


RESULTS
Chi-squared analysis found 23 children showed evidence that strabismus influenced their choices (p < 0.07). Of these 23, 12 preferred playmates with strabismus and 11 preferred orthotropic playmates. Chi-squared analysis of all subjects combined found decisions were not based on the magnitude or direction of strabismus.


CONCLUSIONS
As only 11% of the children consistently selected against playmates with strabismus, and about the same percentage preferred playmates with strabismus (12%), the presence of strabismus does not appear to be a significant factor in peer acceptance in this age group.
Johns
Heather A
HA
University of Houston College of Optometry, 505 J Davis Armistead Bldg, Houston, TX, USA. hjohns@optometry.uh.edu
Manny
Ruth E
RE
Fern
Karen D
KD
Hu
Ying-Sheng
YS
D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010781:Photography; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013285:Strabismus / Q000523:psychology*