Body Esteem in a Western Australian Cleft Lip and/or Palate Cohort Across 3 Age Groups. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nicholls, Wendy; Harper, Craig; Selvey, Linda A.; Robinson, Suzanne; Hartig, Gerald; Persson, Martin
• Is Part Of: Cleft palate-craniofacial journal. Volume 55:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 487
• Page End: 498
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: cleft lip and palate -- appearance -- body esteem -- body image; Cleft palate -- Periodicals; Skull -- Abnormalities -- Periodicals; Cranial manipulation -- Periodicals; Skull -- Abnormalities -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Face -- Abnormalities -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Fente palatine -- Périodiques; Crâne -- Malformations -- Périodiques; Manipulation crânienne -- Périodiques; Crâne -- Malformations -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Face -- Malformations -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Cleft palate; Cranial manipulation; Face -- Abnormalities -- Surgery; Skull -- Abnormalities; Skull -- Abnormalities -- Surgery; Cleft Lip; Cleft Palate; Facial Bones -- abnormalities; Skull -- abnormalities; Periodicals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.522
• DOI: 10.1177/1055665617730362
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1055-6656

Abstract

Objectives: To determine if patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) from a Western Australian (WA) cohort were more dissatisfied with their body esteem than a normative non-cleft cohort, and identify demographic variables that may have significant associations with body esteem. Design: Questionnaire study using the Body-Esteem Scale (BES) and Cleft Research Questionnaire (CRQ). Participants: Self-selected participants from a Western Australian CL/P population across 3 age groups (n=359). Main outcome measures: The BES is comprised of 3 factors: BE-Appearance, BE-Weight and BE-Attribution. Study mean BES factor scores were compared to normative non-cleft scores. Regression analysis was used to determine significant associations within each age group between BES factor scores and CRQ variables of: gender, self-reported body weight category, cleft type and importance of facial appearance rating. Results: Study mean BE-Attribution scores were significantly lower than the normative scores and significantly lower than the mean BE-Appearance and BE-Weight factor scores within the same age groups of this study. Having a cleft type of lip and palate, being overweight, and placing a high importance on facial appearance had significant negative associations with BES scores. Maintaining a normal body weight and placing a lower level of importance on facial appearance had significant positive associations. Gender had no significant associations. Conclusion: In this study, the attribution aspect of body esteem had a greater negative impact on patients than their appearance and body weight. This has important implications for clinical treatment and support of patients.