Background and aims:  Child stereotypes about height have not been well documented in spite of their relevance to understanding the impact of height differences on the well-being of short statured children. The results of most studies could be affected by social desirability. We constructed a novel, implicit tool, the Height-Perception-Picture-Test (HPPT), which assesses internal emotions towards four age-appropriate social situations related to height: a basketball game, a dance party, a yearbook picture and a picture of children sitting. The study aimed to validate the HPPT and examine the association between self-esteem and the HPPT. 
Methods: 233 healthy children (118 boys), aged 8-17 years, with height in the normal range (-2<height-SDS<+2) were recruited to the study. Participants completed the HPTT and the Rosenberg-Self-Esteem-Scale (RSES). 
Results: The HPPT Cronbach-α was 0.869, indicates good internal consistency. Lower scores were found for answers about a child with short stature as compared to an average height child in all social situations (P<0.001). Negative correlations were found between RSES and the HPPT mean scores (R=-.274, p<.001 & R=-.239, p=.001 for short and averaged height children, respectively). 
Conclusions: In this study, negative attitudes were shown towards the short stature child, while the average height child was considered more popular, strong and capable. Children with a higher self-esteem showed greater acceptance of other children with different stature.

WOULD YOU PLAY WITH A SHORT CHILD? ATTITUDES TOWARDS SHORT STATURE CHILDREN - A NOVEL TOOL