Untersuchung und Erfassung von kindlichen Krankheitskonzepten im Grundschulalter

The preceding work followed two goals. The primary goal was to construct a standardized test to understand the concepts of children about health and illness. The second goal was to analyze the significance of influential factors on the development of these concepts. Based on criticism of previous research and on the practical significance of knowledge about children’s concepts the question was addressed, if a standardized examination of children’s concepts in the area of health and illness is possible. On the background of information processing theory and on the basis of classical testing theory different testing modules were constructed. These include modules about knowledge and understanding of the healthy body and illnesses. In addition, modules related to the capacity to memorize information about health and illness as well as to the capacity of logical thinking in the area of health and illness were constructed. The test to understand children’s concepts of illness (FEKK) is related to 7-11 year old primary school children. The FEKK was analyzed with regard to the criteria of objectivity, reliability and validity. The results underlined the usefulness of applying a standardized test to examine children’s concepts of illness in primary school age. In the second goal was to analyze factors influencing the development of illness concepts. It was shown that grade, intellectual capacities, especially verbal capacities, as well as the experience of long-term illness can be regarded as individual influence factors. Regarding the personal long-term illness experiences, a differential influence determined by the kind of illness and the characteristics of this illness could be established. Looking at the social influence factors, especially the level of education of the mother as well as the long-term illness experiences of close relatives proofed to be of importance. The results of this study were discussed in relation to the preceding research and with regard to implications for practical work with acute and chronically ill children.