Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of children and adolescents attending a one-week Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp to their attitude toward illness and their level of anxiety. The study also investigated how the number of goals completed and the number of positive social behaviors performed by the child or adolescent impacted the attitude toward illness and their level of anxiety. Finally, this study correlated the impact on the family with the severity of the illness.

Findings and Conclusions: Results from this study demonstrated that summer camp participants had lowered levels of anxiety and more positive attitudes toward illness after attendance at the camp. A significant relationship with number of goals completed at camp with attitude toward illness and level of anxiety was not seen, but there was a relationship seen between the number of positive acts towards others completed with increased positive attitude toward illness and a decreased level of anxiety. The more significant the physical impairment the more negatively the family system was impacted. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.