[Psychosocial adjustment in children with a cleft lip and/or palate].
OBJECTIVE
To gain insight into the psychosocial health of children aged 9 to 12 years with a cleft lip and/or palate; to determine the relation between their health and the nature and severity of the cleft as well as other individual characteristics.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Questionnaires completed by parents, teachers and children were used to obtain information about the psychosocial health, nature and severity of the cleft lip and/or palate, and individual characteristics of 80 children. The interrelationship between these parameters was assessed using chi-square tests, single-factor analysis of variance and correlational analysis.


RESULTS
In general, the psychosocial health of children with a cleft lip and/or palate did not differ from that of the norm groups. Parents of children with a cleft lip/and or palate reported more withdrawn or depressive behaviour in their child than parents from the norm groups. Children with a cleft lip and/or palate exhibited less rule-breaking behaviour. Teachers reported relatively more social problems. One-third of the children had learning problems. A better psychosocial health was associated with fewer speech problems but not with a more or less abnormal physical appearance. Self-image showed a negative correlation with psychosocial health problems, while learning problems showed a positive correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, the psychosocial health of children with a cleft lip and/or palate does not differ from children without this condition. However, children with a cleft lip and/or palate do exhibit more learning problems.
Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Afd. Medische Psychologie, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Ineke H C
IH
Hoek
Floris W
FW
Kraaimaat
Ronald J C
RJ
Admiraal
Anne Marie
AM
Kuijpers-Jagtman
Christianne M
CM
Verhaak
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000523:psychology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires