The effect of strabismus on a young child's selection of a playmate.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of strabismus on a child's playmate selection.

Methods: Photographs of orthotropic children aged 3-6 years were altered to simulate various magnitudes of strabismus. The pictures were arranged in pairs, one orthotropic child and one with strabismus. One hundred children aged 3-8 years viewed the photographs and were asked to select a playmate from each pair.

Results: Chi-squared analysis found 23 children showed evidence that strabismus influenced their choices (p < 0.07). Of these 23, 12 preferred playmates with strabismus and 11 preferred orthotropic playmates. Chi-squared analysis of all subjects combined found decisions were not based on the magnitude or direction of strabismus.

Conclusions: As only 11% of the children consistently selected against playmates with strabismus, and about the same percentage preferred playmates with strabismus (12%), the presence of strabismus does not appear to be a significant factor in peer acceptance in this age group.