The self-concept of adolescents with cleft lip and palate: a pilot study using a multidimensional/hierarchical measurement instrument

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To pilot the use of a multidimensional/hierarchical measurement instrument called the self-description questionnaire II to determine whether specific areas of self-concept in a group of adolescents with cleft lip and palate would be affected by their condition when compared with a normative sample. PARTICIPANTS AND DESIGN: The self-concept of 23 adolescents with a cleft of the lip and palate was compared to an Australian normative sample. Adolescents attending the dental department of a paediatric hospital in Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was a self-report questionnaire (102 items) with 10 domain-specific scales and a global measure of general self-concept. RESULTS: When compared to the normative data the study group showed significant differences in 4 of the 11 domain-specific scales: Parent Relations (P < 0.001), Physical Abilities (P < 0.001), Opposite-Sex Relations (P < 0.01) and Physical Appearance (P < 0.01) self-concepts. These differences were in a positive direction. Global self-concept as measured by the General Self scale was not significantly different from the normative sample. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that adolescents with clefts of the lip and palate have normative if not better self-concept than their peers. The study also suggests that having a cleft of the lip and palate has specific rather than broad associations with psychosocial adjustment. This justifies the use of instruments designed to assess specific areas of self-concept rather than more global measures.