Learned Helplessness in Pediatric Juvenile Rheumatic Disease

The objective was to examine a learned helplessness §conceptualization of psychological sequela in §children and adolescents with juvenile rheumatic §diseases (JRD) via an experimental procedure §utilizing behavior outcome contingent and §noncontingent feedback. JRD represents a §heterogeneous group of chronic inflammatory §disorders including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis §(JRA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), juvenile §spondylarthropathies (JS), and juvenile §dermatomyositis (JDMS). These debilitating chronic §childhood illnesses are characterized by joint§inflammation and a variable and unpredictable disease§course. The chronic episodic nature of these §illnesses creates particular challenges for children §to engage in pleasurable and valued activities as §well as ordinary daily self-care. The study consists §of fifty children and adolescents with JRD §who completed measures of transient affect, self-§efficacy for functional ability, and causal §attributions prior to and immediately following a §computerized learned helplessness induction §procedure.