Psychological Factors in Turner Syndrome: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Turner syndrome, a chromosomal disorder affecting approximately 1 in 2,500 live female births, is associated with anomalies in a number of areas that are normally of interest to psychologists. There is evidence that girls with Turner syndrome show particular kinds of deficits in cognitive functioning, and that these vary with karyotype. There is also evidence that the psychosocial functioning of these girls is often impaired and disrupted; research has pointed to a number of factors, related to the physical sequelae of the syndrome and to deficits in other areas, that impact on functioning in this area. The value such research has for understanding the connection between genetic make-up and human psychological functioning in general is discussed. Particular attention is paid to the issue of psychosocial development among these girls, and the kinds of influences, related to the syndrome itself and to the family’s response to it, that are implicated in developments in this broad area. Finally, some issues for further research are considered.