Personality and Cognitive–Emotional Variables in Spanish Children and Adolescents With and Without Cleft Lip and/or Palate

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze personality (Big Five Model) and cognitive–emotional variables in children and adolescents with a cleft lip/palate (s) in comparison to an equivalent peer sample without an orofacial cleft. Design: Cross-sectional study with data collected using self-reported questionnaires over 2 years. Setting: Data were collected during visits to health center dental clinics. Patients: Children and adolescents (aged 8-18 years) with nonsyndromic CL/P (n = 60) and without a cleft (n = 60). Method: Patients completed questionnaires with assistance as needed from a member of the research team. Main Outcome Measures: Children’s Perceived Self-Efficacy, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (child version), Big Five Questionnaire for Children, and Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children. Results: When accounting for age, children with CL/P had normative self-efficacy and cognitive–emotional regulation strategies, with the protective factor of significantly lower rumination than peers. Children with CL/P were significantly lower on the Big Five personality areas of conscientiousness, openness to experience, extraversion, and agreeableness along with significantly higher neuroticism. They were similarly significantly higher than peers for alexithymia. Conclusion: Children with CL/P showed strengths in self-efficacy typical of peers and less use of some maladaptive coping strategies; however, they also had higher levels of alexithymia and risk factors associated with the Big Five Model of personality. Strategies may be clinically useful that maximize areas of strength to support children with CL/P in expressing their emotions to reduce alexithymia, coping with of negative affect, and building assertiveness.

Psychological and Peer Difficulties of Children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Resilience has been defined as “the capacity for positive adaptation in significant adversity.” 62 Of the 41 articles included, 7 investigated resilience in children born with a cleft, 5,8,23,28,29,46,48 measured by the KIDCOPE Checklist 63 and CEQ. Generally, children and adolescents born with a cleft were found to have good resilience and psychological adaptation, 23,28,29,48 despite the increased incidence of teasing and social stigmatization.…”

“…Resilience has been defined as “the capacity for positive adaptation in significant adversity.” 62 Of the 41 articles included, 7 investigated resilience in children born with a cleft, 5,8,23,28,29,46,48 measured by the KIDCOPE Checklist 63 and CEQ. Generally, children and adolescents born with a cleft were found to have good resilience and psychological adaptation, 23,28,29,48 despite the increased incidence of teasing and social stigmatization. 23 Ruiz-Guillen et al 48 determined that children born with a cleft had more positive coping skills than the general population, with less rumination, catastrophizing, and self-blame, and increased levels of positive focusing.…”

“…Generally, children and adolescents born with a cleft were found to have good resilience and psychological adaptation, 23,28,29,48 despite the increased incidence of teasing and social stigmatization. 23 Ruiz-Guillen et al 48 determined that children born with a cleft had more positive coping skills than the general population, with less rumination, catastrophizing, and self-blame, and increased levels of positive focusing. Feragen et al 28 suggested that some negative experiences were required to develop the necessary coping strategies to develop resilience.…”

“…12 A total of 7 of these studies reported an increase in peer problems in children born with a cleft 20,22,29,32,36,37,42 and 4 studies reported no difference. 38,[48][49][50] One study reported more positive interpersonal relationships for children born with a cleft when compared to the normative population, 5 and 1 specifically investigated the impact of orthodontic treatment on peer problems. 47 In a study of 32 participants, Brand et al 22 reported that children born with CLP had increased social difficulties, with a 6-fold increase in the incidence of peer problems when compared to the control cohort.…”

The impact of COVID‐19 on the well‐being of Victorian children born with cleft lip and/or palate

“…Children born with CL/P are also reported to have high levels of resiliency and psychological adaptation, with more positive coping skills than the typically developing population. 38 This may result in fewer difficulties during challenging life events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, for this population.…”