pediatric psychology
an interdisciplinary field of research and practice that addresses physical, behavioral, and emotional development as it interacts with health and illness in children, adolescents, and families. Related to the larger field of health psychology, pediatric psychology focuses on the child in the contexts of the family, school, and health care settings. It tends to take a normative developmental view of adaptation based on physical conditions, medical treatment, and psychosocial interactions with family and peers, rather than a psychopathological view of adjustment to disease and disorders.