Self-concept of parental evaluation of peer relationships in cleft lip and palate children

Abstract

This investigation examined the relationship of the self-concept of children with cleft lip and palate to the self-concept of non-cleft children. Fifty cleft lip and palate children between the ages of eight and 18 were individually matched by age, sex and race with 50 non-cleft children. Each child was given the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Children with clefts, regardless of sex, reported significantly lower global self-concept than non-cleft subjects (p < .005). Further significant differences between cleft and non-cleft subjects were found in five of six cluster scores. These included: behavior (p < .05), school status (p < .05), popularity (p < .05), happiness and satisfaction (p < .001), and physical attributes and appearance (p < .001). A significant effect (p < .01), was found on the popularity score, with cleft males feeling less popular than their non-cleft peers. A significant effect was also found on the anxiety score, with cleft females reporting significantly more anxiety (p < .01) than their non-cleft peers. A questionnaire was completed by the parents of the cleft and non-cleft subjects evaluating their child's relationship with family, peers and progress in school. In general, parents of both groups reported positive ratings of their child's social interactions. Parents of cleft. . subjects reported more negative responses than the parents of non-cleft subjects concerning the teasing the child experiences because of his/her facial appearance (p < .05) and the effect that the child's facial appearance had on progress in school (p < .05).