Appraisal and coping in adults with cleft lip: Associations with well-being and social anxiety

The appraisal patterns and coping strategies of adults born with a cleft li p or cleft lip and palate were assessed in relation to measures of psycholo gical well-being and social anxiety. A sample of 51 adults was recruited vi a the Cleft Lip and Palate Association. Data were collated using a question naire incorporating open questions and standardized measures. The focus was upon appraisal of the cleft, perceptions of consequences - both positive a nd negative - on personal and social dimensions, together with measurements of sense of coherence, psychological well-being, satisfaction with life an d coping responses utilized in stressful situations. There was wide variability in the participants' reports of negative affect as a component of psychological well-being, suggesting that there may be sm all numbers of individuals with quite extreme responses. Seventy-five per c ent reported difficulties which they attributed to their cleft. Perceiving positive gains as a result of the cleft and having a positive appraisal of racial appearance was associated with well-being. Patterns in coping strate gies were also associated with emotional adjustment. Personal appraisals of both having a cleft and facial appearance may be mor e important in determining emotional well-being than the current medical em phasis on the aesthetics of surgical outcomes.