Anxiety in Caregivers of Chinese Children Under 3 Years Old with Cleft Lip or Palate

Abstract

Objectives

This study compared anxiety between Chinese caregivers of children with non-syndromic cleft lip (CL) or cleft palate (CP) at the time of their first surgery and control group as well as identifying factors associated with caregiver anxiety.

Design

Retrospective, observational cohort study.

Setting

Department of Cleft Lip and Palate in West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University.

Participants

Caregivers of children under 3 years old.

Main Outcome Measures

The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7).

Results

Caregivers were mostly married mothers aged 19-35 years in the control (n = 131), CL (n = 132), or CP (n = 147) groups. Mean GAD-7 scores were 4.90 ± 4.53, 3.74 ± 3.95, and 4.82 ± 4.64 for the control, CL, and CP groups, respectively. The only differences were lower anxiety for the CL group compared to controls (P = .028) and to the CP group (P = .038). Most caregivers reported no anxiety (control 50.38%, CL 65.15%, CP 53.74%) or mild anxiety (control 39.69%, CL 27.27%, CP 31.29%). More CL caregivers exhibited no anxiety compared to controls (65.15% vs. 50.38%), while more CP caregivers exhibited moderate anxiety compared to controls (12.24% vs. 3.82%). Higher GAD-7 scores were associated with having fewer children for CL caregivers, and with younger age and lower education for CP caregivers.

Conclusion

At the time of first surgery, most Chinese caregivers of children with CL/CP had no to low anxiety. Additional psychosocial support may benefit the 8% to 15% of caregivers of children with a cleft who had moderate or severe anxiety.