Sociodemographics and Quality of Life in Dutch-Speaking Adolescents and Adults With and Without a Cleft Lip and/or Palate. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alighieri, Cassandra; D'haeseleer, Evelien; Bettens, Kim; Bonte, Katrien; Vermeersch, Hubert; Vermeire, Nele; Claeys, Merel; Sseremba, Daniel; Galiwango, George; Van Lierde, Kristiane
• Is Part Of: Cleft palate-craniofacial journal. Volume 59:Number 4(2022)Supplement 2
• Page Start: S65
• Page End: S73
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: cleft lip and palate -- outcomes -- employment -- functioning; 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: 10.1177/10556656211024513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1055-6656

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of living with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) on sociodemographic variables, quality of life, aesthetics, life satisfaction, and social distress in Dutch-speaking adolescents and adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Thirty Dutch-speaking participants with a CL/P with a mean age of 26.93 years (SD = 11.69) and an age- and gender-matched control group of 30 participants (19 men and 11 women) without a CL/P with a mean age of 26.87 years (SD = 11.73). Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported outcomes of sociodemographics, quality of life, aesthetics, life satisfaction, social distress, and impact of cleft on well-being and functioning. Results: No significant differences in educational level, employment, monthly net income, marital status, and having children were found between participants with and without a CL/P. In addition, quality of life, overall aesthetics, life satisfaction, and social distress did not differ between the 2 groups. Among participants with CL/P, there were no gender differences in the influence of their CL/P on daily functioning, well-being, social contacts, family life, applying for a job, work, education, or leisure time. Conclusion: The findings revealed no differences between participants with and without a CL/P with regard to sociodemographics, quality of life, aesthetics, life satisfaction, or social distress. There were no gender differences in the influence of cleft on well-being and functioning. Longitudinal research can help determine possible fluctuations in the impact of living with a CL/P across the life span.