SELF-PERCEIVED FACIAL APPEARANCE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT IN PREADOLESCENTS WITH CRANIOFACIAL ANOMALIES

Objective: To identify aspects of psychosocial adjustment related to t he self-perceived facial appearance of preadolescents with craniofacia l abnormalities,Design: Concurrent relationships were evaluated using a within-group correlational design, Participants: Participants were 2 4 patients, aged 11 to 13, of a major craniofacial center and their pa rents who were contacted by telephone and agreed to participate, Main Outcome Measures: Self-report and parent-report questionnaires assessi ng psychosocial adjustment, Results: Self-perceived facial appearance was positively correlated with global self-worth, self-perceived socia l acceptance, and number of same-sex close friends, and negatively cor related with loneliness, parent-rated social problems, and parental ad vice/support and concern (all p's <.05 or better), Conclusions: Dissat isfaction with facial appearance was associated with peer relationship problems and low global self-esteem, but not with other aspects of se lf-concept or other types of adjustment problems.