UC Irvine

Self-concept is a critical indicator of quality of life but few studies have examined this subject in children with Down syndrome (DS). In this study, we propose a novel methodology to assess the self-concept of children with DS by analyzing their responses towards two dolls, one with a "typically developing" (TD) appearance and one with the phenotypic features of DS. Fifty-four children with DS participated in play sessions with both dolls and were then interviewed to assess doll preference, resemblance, and attribution of positive qualities. We observed that children with DS: (i) exhibited a preference for the TD doll regardless of age, gender, IQ or self-awareness; (ii) attributed more positive qualities to the TD doll than the DS doll; and (iii) believed that they resembled the TD doll, rather than the more phenotypically accurate representation of themselves. Older participants were more likely to exhibit self-recognition by this technique. These findings contribute to current understandings of how people with DS view themselves and their disability.