Self-esteem, coping styles, and quality of life in polish adolescents and young adults with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2014 May;51(3):290-9. doi: 10.1597/13-002. Epub 2013

Jul 31.

Pisula E, Lukowska E, Fudalej PS.

Objectives : To evaluate self-esteem, coping styles, and health-related quality

of life and their relationships in Polish adolescents and young adults with

unilateral complete cleft lip and palate and related sex differences. Design and

Participants : Self-report questionnaires measuring self-esteem

(Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory), coping styles (Coping Inventory for

Stressful Situations), and health-related quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were

completed by 48 participants with cleft lip and palate (age, 16 to 23 years; 31

males, 17 females) and 48 controls without cleft lip and palate (age, 16 to 23

years; 28 males, 20 females) matched for age, place of residence, and

socioeconomic status. Results : Regarding self-esteem, individuals with cleft

lip and palate scored higher on body functioning (P < .01) and defensive

self-enhancement (P < .05). Self-control showed an interaction effect: Females

with cleft lip and palate scored higher than controls, but males did not differ

between groups (P < .05). Males with cleft lip and palate scored lower than

controls in personal power but higher in body functioning (P < .05); females

showed no differences between groups. The groups did not differ with regard to

coping styles or quality of life, but several correlations were found between

self-esteem and coping styles, and quality of life (P < .01). Conclusions : Late

adolescents and young adults with and without cleft lip and palate differed

little in terms of psychological adjustment measures. The higher scores in

defensive self-enhancement of individuals with cleft lip and palate suggest the

need for instruments measuring social approval in psychosocial adjustment

research involving this group.

DOI: 10.1597/13-002

PMID: 23902271 [Indexed for MEDLINE]