Personality characteristics of adolescents with scoliosis and their impact on relation to rehabilitation

The article describes the personal characteristics of adolescents with scoliosis (the study sample consisted of 38 adolescents aged 15-17). It is shown that personality changes depend on the severity of the disease and gender-specific responses. Therefore changes of personality traits are more characteristic for the adolescents with high degrees of scoliosis, while the adolescents with initial extent of the disease reveal changes in the mental condition and behavioral reactions. The study discovers personality characteristics that influence adolescents’ relation to medical rehabilitation which forms a perspective basis for development of differentiated programs of psychological support in prolonged hospital conditions.