EFFECT OF PARENTAL FACTORS ON SOCIAL SKILLS OF PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN WITH CRANIOFACIAL ANOMALIES

This study investigated the parenting stress and style and the social networks of parents with preschool children with and without craniofac ial anomalies (CFA), and the effect of these factors on the child's le vel of social skill. Fifty-two families participated in the study. No differences were found between the CFA and control groups on level of parenting stress, parenting style, or social network characteristics. However, parents with children with visible defects found their social support networks more helpful, and advocated a more nurturing parenti ng style. For the CFA group, parenting stress predicted child level of social skill. These results underscore the importance of investigatin g the interaction between parent and child factors.