Cleft Lip and/or Palate: Psychosocial Impact on Children and Their Families - Essay Example

A study by Lynne Murray (2010) researched the effects of cleft lip on the socio-emotional functioning of school going children. A control group was compared to children with cleft lip (with or without cleft palates) at infancy and then at seven years of age. The study used three measures to distinguish socio-emotional behavior based on reports by teachers and mothers, observation of social interaction as well as the children’s social representations that were assessed through doll play. Compensation was introduced for infant attachment as well as current parenting methods.

The results from this study indicated that children who had clefts were more at risk of social problems, anxious and withdrawn depressed behavior. The research also dug up evidence to substantiate that children with cleft lips had difficulty in their social relationships. Communication difficulties faced by children with cleft lip and cleft palate are responsible in large part for difficulties in social relationships. The problems faced by these children exacerbate when current parenting is weak and unsupportive.

Based on the study it can be concluded that children with cleft lip and cleft palate are at greater risk of socio-emotional difficulties. . er research on the issue indicates that communication is important in resolving psychological distress caused by the presence of cleft lip or cleft palate. The issue of communication is resolved better if the children and the families are exposed to clinical settings that bolster progress in communication for children with cleft lip or cleft palate (Baker, Owens, Stern, & Willmot, 2009).

The study was conducted in a clinical setting and involved one hundred and three children and young adults with cleft lip and cleft palate including the families. It was found that psychological distress and family impacts were not high for children and young adults who were being handled in clinical settings. Parents of the affected children and young adults reported high levels of positive adjustment and stress related growth resulting from these conditions. The participants also indicated high levels of social support and these involved more of approach based strategies rather than avoidance coping strategies.

It was conclusively established that social support from friends and family resulted in lower negative family impact, better levels of adjustment and lower psychological distress. The use of approach coping was seen as associated with greater positive adjustment in contrast to the avoidance coping strategies that resulted in greater psychological distress and family impact. However, it must be noted that this study relied exclusively on children and young adults with cleft lip or cleft palate indicating that there were no control groups being used.

Moreover, the involvement of the participants was limited to questionnaires that were directed to the parents of the affected children and young adults. There was no use of direct observation in this study and instead this study