Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
Volume 25, Issue 6 , Pages 805-808, November 1986

The Prevalence and Use of Transitional Objects: A Study of 230 Adolescents

  • TARANEH SHAFII

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationMs. Shafii wishes to thank Mrs. Emily Pruett, her science teacher, Mohammed Shafii, M.D., and Sharon Lee Shafii, R.N., B.S.N., her parents, and Ms. Patricia George, M.A., Research Assistant, for their guidance, help, and supervision

The author is an 11th grade student at Ballard High School, Lousville, Kentucky. Address reprint requests to Taraneh Shafü, 6305 Shadow Wood Court, Prospect, KY 10059

Received 11 June 1985; accepted 29 July 1985.

Article Outline

Data regarding the prevalence and use of transitional objects is limited. Most studies in this area are based upon the information gathered from mothers of small children rather than directly from children or adolescents. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 233 adolescents ages 13–14 years. The return rate was 98.7% Eighty-eight percent of the girls and 71% of the boys reported having at least one transitional object (p < 0.01). Significant differences between male and female subjects were found in the areas of prevalence, naming, present whereabouts, and discontinuation of the use of transitional objects.

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PII: S0002-7138(09)60199-0

doi:10.1016/S0002-7138(09)60199-0

Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
Volume 25, Issue 6 , Pages 805-808, November 1986