Effects of Craniofacial Birth Defects on Maternal Functioning Postinfancy

This study examined the relationships between children with craniofacial anomalies (cleft lip and palate, cleft palate only, and sagittal synostosis) and their mothers during late infancy and toddlerhood in an effort to identify early factors leading to the psychosocial problems that have been observed in this population of children at school age. Dyadic interaction was observed in play and teaching situations. Maternal self-reports of psychological/emotional status and the quality of relationships with spouse and others were gathered. As compared with mothers of healthy children matched for age and SES, mothers of children with craniofacial anomalies reported higher levels of stress, lower evaluations of self-competence, and a higher degree of marital conflict. The observational measures revealed no group differences in maternal response to the child or in the behavior and responsiveness of the children themselves. The implications of these findings for longitudinal research with children with craniofacial birth defects are discussed.