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

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.