Psychosocial development in adolescents with Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome is a genetic condition in which part or all of the second X chromosome is missing. Our goal in this study was to examine the psychosocial adjustment of a sample of adolescent girls with Turner syndrome. Subjects included 122 girls with a diagnosis of Turner syndrome (TS) and a control group of 108 girls with no genetic disorder or chronic illness. Subjects were 13 to 18 years of age. A battery of questionnaires assessing social, academic, school, and behavioral functioning was administered. TS girls were seen as having significantly more problems in terms of social relationships and school progress and were more likely to meet criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder than control girls. The TS girls were also rated by a parent as less socially competent (e.g., fewer friends, less time with friends) than the control group. Social difficulties appear to be an area of vulnerability for TS girls. Counseling individuals with Turner syndrome and their families about the need to carefully develop and nurture social skills and relationships may prove useful in advancing the social adaptation of these young women.