Social Interaction Patterns of Children and Adolescents with and without Oral Clefts during a Videotaped Analogue Social Encounter

Abstract

Objective

To examine the social interaction patterns of children with and without oral clefts.

Design

Participants were videotaped while interacting with a peer confederate. Oral cleft and control groups were compared on social behavior and several self- and parent-report measures.

Participants

Thirty-four 8- to 15-year-olds with oral clefts, matched for sex, age, and socioeconomic status with 34 noncleft controls.

Main Outcome Measures

Data were obtained on social behaviors coded from videotapes and on child and parent ratings of social acceptance/competence and facial appearance.

Results

Statistically significant differences were found between groups: children with clefts made fewer choices and more often failed to respond to peer questions; children with clefts and their parents reported greater dissatisfaction with the child's facial appearance; and parents of children with clefts rated them as less socially competent. Significant within-group associations were also found. Parent perception of child social competence and child self-perception of social acceptance were positively correlated for both groups. Children with clefts who felt more socially accepted more often looked a peer in the face. Controls who felt more socially accepted chose an activity less often during the social encounter.

Conclusions

Differing patterns of overt social behavior as well as parent and self-perception can be measured between children with and without oral clefts. Such results may be helpful in developing interventions to enhance social skills and parent/child adjustment.