Psychosocial adjustment in children and adolescents with a craniofacial anomaly: age and sex patterns.
OBJECTIVE
To examine rates of psychosocial adjustment problems and competencies in a sample of children with congenital craniofacial anomalies (CFAs).


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Urban hospital plastic surgery primary care unit.


METHODS
A total of 724 children aged 2 to 18 years with completed Child Behavior Checklists in their medical charts.


METHODS
Child Behavior Checklist.


RESULTS
Higher rates of problems in the clinical range were seen for withdrawn, attention, social, thought, and internalizing problems and lower rates for externalizing and somatic complaints; specific patterns varied according to age and sex. Elevated rates of competency deficits were seen in some groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Most children with CFAs do not appear to experience psychosocial adjustment problems. Although elevated risk may be seen for certain problems, this group may be protected in other areas. Research identifying the mechanisms responsible for varying age and sex patterns of adjustment is needed.
Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY 11439, USA. popea@stjohns.edu
Alice W
AW
Pope
Heather T
HT
Snyder
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires