The Role of Maternal Factors in the Adaptation of Children with Craniofacial Disfigurement

Abstract

This study hypothesized that maternal adjustment, perceptions, and social support would better predict child adaptation to craniofacial disfigurement than medical severity. Mothers of 77 children (ages 6-12) completed the Child Behavior Checklist, Beck Depression Inventory, Spielberger Trait Anxiety Scale, Social Support Questionnaire Revised, and Parenting Stress Index. Medical severity was assessed by the number of operations (craniofacial and other), comorbid medical conditions, and the Hay Attractiveness Scale. The children and mothers in our sample resembled a normal population in terms of their psychological functioning and quality of the mother-child relationships. Maternal adjustment and maternal perceptions of the mother-child relationship were more potent predictors of children's emotional adjustment than either medical severity or maternal social support.