Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 9-1-1992
Journal / Book Title
Health Education Research
Abstract
This study of urban, multi-ethnic children was undertaken to explore the relationships between age, cognitive developmental capability (termed ‘cognitive maturity’) and accuracy of information about health problems. A total of 299 children in the first, second and third grades from six public and one private school hi New York City were individually interviewed using an open-ended set of questions. Findings indicated that having accurate health information is not the same as comprehending the abstract internal nature of the ‘facts’. Results supported Piaget's levels of cognitive development applied to the area of health. Findings also showed that age is a better predictor of children's accuracy about health information than their cognitive maturity. The findings underscore the need for those providing health education to place emphasis on the cognitive abilities of children and not to mistake recitation of factual information for understanding of conceptual elements of a health problem.
DOI
10.1093/her/7.3.391
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Lieberman, Lisa D.; Clark, Noreeen; Krone, Karen V.; Orlandi, Mario; and Wynder, Ernst L., "The relationship between cognitive maturity and information about health problems among school age children" (1992). Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works. 54.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/public-health-facpubs/54
Published Citation
Lieberman, Lisa D., Noreen M. Clark, Karen V. Krone, Mario A. Orlandi, and Ernst L. Wynder. "The relationship between cognitive maturity and information about health problems among school age children." Health Education Research 7, no. 3 (1992): 391-401.
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Neuroscience Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Development Studies Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, School Psychology Commons, Social Psychology Commons