Sense of coherence, social networks, and mental health among children with a cochlear implant.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the personal and social resources of children with a cochlear implant from a child's perspective.


METHODS
This descriptive cross-sectional study included 19 children with cochlear implants, aged 9-12 years. Data was collected, using the children's sense of coherence (CSOC) scale, the Network map, and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). The data was analyzed using descriptive and correlation statistics.


RESULTS
Most children had a strong sense of coherence. School life was an important arena for their social network. The mental health was comparable to normal hearing children. Still, some of the children with implants had low SOC and poor mental health. High SOC and closeness of the social network, especially in school, were associated with good mental health.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that Swedish school-aged children with cochlear implants as a group have access to personal and social resources as strong sense of coherence and social networks. Still, there are individual children with psychosocial problems who need support and treatment.
CLINTEC Department, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: lena.anmyr@karolinska.se.
Lena
L
Anmyr
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 23400 S-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden.
Mariann
M
Olsson
CLINTEC Department, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Anders
A
Freijd
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 23400 S-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, S-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden.
Kjerstin
K
Larsson
D002648:Child; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000523:psychology; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
Children; Cochlear implant; Hearing impairments; Mental health; Questionnaires; Social resources