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Abstract

Objective:

To identify aspects of psychosocial adjustment related to the self-perceived facial appearance of preadolescents with craniofacial abnormalities.

Design:

Concurrent relationships were evaluated using a within-group correlational design.

Participants:

Participants were 24 patients, aged 11 to 13, of a major craniofacial center and their parents who were contacted by telephone and agreed to participate.

Main Outcome Measures:

Self-report and parent-report questionnaires assessing psychosocial adjustment.

Results:

Self-perceived facial appearance was positively correlated with global self-worth, self-perceived social acceptance, and number of same-sex close friends, and negatively correlated with loneliness, parent-rated social problems, and parental advice/support and concern (all p's < .05 or better).

Conclusions:

Dissatisfaction with facial appearance was associated with peer relationship problems and low global self-esteem, but not with other aspects of self-concept or other types of adjustment problems.

Keywords

craniofacial abnormalities facial appearance psychosocial adjustment self-perceived

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Self-Perceived Facial Appearance and Psychosocial Adjustment in Preadolescents with Craniofacial Anomalies