Social life aspects of young adults with cleft lip and palate: grounded theory approach.
OBJECTIVE
The findings of many questionnaire and inventory studies suggest that people with cleft lip and/or palate report a decreased quality of life. Common problems include dissatisfaction with the external appearance of the lips and nose, speech problems, depression, and anxiety. This qualitative study aimed to explore the subjective perceptions and values of young adults with clefts, particularly with regard to their social lives.


METHODS
Twelve persons participated in an in-depth interview. Among those, seven had a repaired isolated cleft palate involving only the hard/soft palate. Five had a repaired bilateral cleft lip and palate that had been a continuous lesion of the lip, the alveolar process, and the palate. A grounded theory approach was used to conduct and analyze the interviews.


RESULTS
The study revealed seven important categories--hoping to be like other people, being treated differently from others, experiencing deviation from others, regarding oneself as being different from others, lack of recognition, low self-esteem, and receiving recognition from significant others--with hoping to be like other people as the core category.


CONCLUSIONS
Young adults with either cleft lip and palate or isolated cleft palate who received recognition from significant others reported increased self-esteem and greater ability to cope with their social lives.
Chetpakdeechit
Woranuch
W
Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. woranuch.c@odontologi.gu.se
Hallberg
Ulrika
U
Hagberg
Catharina
C
Mohlin
Bengt
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012933:Social Identification; D055815:Young Adult