Psychosocial Outcomes in Children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: Associations of Demographic, Cleft Morphologic, and Treatment-Related Variables

Objective To determine associations of demographic, morphologic, and treatment protocol parameters with quality of life (QoL), appearance/speech satisfaction, and psychological adjustment. Design Observational study utilizing retrospective report of protocol variables and current outcome variables. Setting Six North American cleft treatment clinics. Participants Children, ages 8.0–10.99 years, with Cleft Lip ± Alveolus, Cleft Palate, Cleft Lip and Palate, and parents (N = 284). Outcome Measures Pediatric QoL Inventory (PedsQL): Parent, Child, Family Impact Module (FIM); Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS); Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL); CLEFT-Q. Results Outcome scores were average with few differences by cleft type. Multiple regression analyses yielded significant associations ( Ps < .05) between socioeconomic status, race, and age at assessment and parent- and self-reported measures. Females had higher PROMIS Depression (β=.20) but lower CBCL Affective (β = −.16) and PROMIS Stigma scores (β= −.24). Incomplete cleft lip was associated with lower PROMIS Depression, and more positive ratings of CLEFT-Q: Nose, Nostril, Lip Scar; CBCL Competence scores, (βs = −.17 to .17). Younger Age at Lip Closure was associated with higher CBCL School Competence (β= −.18). Younger Age at Palate Closure was associated with higher Child PedsQL Total, Physical, Psychosocial QoL, and better CLEFT-Q Speech Function (βs = −.18 to −.15). Furlow Palatoplasty was associated with more CBCL Externalizing Problems (β = .17) higher CBCL Activities (β = .16). For all diagnoses, fewer Total Cleft-Related Surgeries was associated with lower PROMIS Stigma and higher CBCL Total Competence and Activities (βs = −.16 to .15). Conclusions Demographic characteristics, lip morphology, and treatment variables are related to later psychological functioning.