A social study of dwarfing conditions III. The social and emotional experiences of adults with bone dysplasias

Information about life styles and experiences was recorded from 57 dwarfed adults. Very few informants had themselves sought counselling with regard to growth, cause and inheritance, but most reported a prolonged “identity crisis” and feelings of anger as young adults. Since World War II the average standard reached at school had risen from lower secondary to Year 10. Most informants had been in open employment at some stage, generally holding employee status positions in clerical jobs and trades. Regular social activities with normal-sized peers were enjoyed by two-thirds of informants, but meeting with other dwarfed people brought mixed reactions. Twenty had married. Mental illness and behaviour disturbance were frequent in the households of the informants. There was general dissatisfaction with medical and employment services available to dwarfed people. Public transport and other public facilities were rarely suited to the needs of dwarfed adults, who were very dependent upon owning suitably modified cars.