Abstract
Objective:
To investigate the impact of living with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) on sociodemographic variables, quality of life, aesthetics, life satisfaction, and social distress in Dutch-speaking adolescents and adults.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Participants:
Thirty Dutch-speaking participants with a CL/P with a mean age of 26.93 years (SD = 11.69) and an age- and gender-matched control group of 30 participants (19 men and 11 women) without a CL/P with a mean age of 26.87 years (SD = 11.73).
Main Outcome Measures:
Self-reported outcomes of sociodemographics, quality of life, aesthetics, life satisfaction, social distress, and impact of cleft on well-being and functioning.
Results:
No significant differences in educational level, employment, monthly net income, marital status, and having children were found between participants with and without a CL/P. In addition, quality of life, overall aesthetics, life satisfaction, and social distress did not differ between the 2 groups. Among participants with CL/P, there were no gender differences in the influence of their CL/P on daily functioning, well-being, social contacts, family life, applying for a job, work, education, or leisure time.
Conclusion:
The findings revealed no differences between participants with and without a CL/P with regard to sociodemographics, quality of life, aesthetics, life satisfaction, or social distress. There were no gender differences in the influence of cleft on well-being and functioning. Longitudinal research can help determine possible fluctuations in the impact of living with a CL/P across the life span.
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