THE IMAGE OF A CHILD WITH FACIAL DYSMORPHISM IN A MOTHER’S PERCEPTION
Journal Title: Acta Neuropsychologica - Year 2016, Vol 14, Issue 2
Abstract
Background: Facial dysmorphisms are very often an integral component of numerous genetic syndromes. There is an especially clear link between facial dysmorphism and deeper intellectual disability. The coupling of the forms of dysmorphism occurring in a child’s face with intellectual disability can significantly change the image of the child in the minds of those from its immediate environment/surroundings. The aim of the research was an evaluation of the perception on the part of the children’s mothers of two groups of children with a moderate degree of intellectual disability (NIU): those with facial dysmorphism (DYS) and without facial dysmorphism (NON/DYS).Material/Methods: The research covered 83 mothers of children suffering from moderate intellectual disability. The first group comprised 52 mothers for whom their children, besides intellectual disability, also displayed facial dysmorphisms, while the other group was made up exclusively of 31 mothers whose children suffered from moderate intellectual disability yet did not have facial dysmorphism. The experiment made use of the semantic differential (SD) method comprising a 20 point scale of adjectives and their antonyms in four parameters: ‘ability,’ ‘personal traits,’ ‘values,’ ‘appearance.’ The mothers were asked to provide an evaluation of their own perception of their child.Results: The results obtained through the semantic differential method showed the absence of any significant statistical differences in the perception of their children by both groups of mothers with regard to three of the tested parameters: (1) personal traits – the mothers perceived their children as empathic, thoughtful and sociable; (2) values – for both groups of mothers their children are clever, hardworking and meticulous; (3) appearance – for both groups of mothers their children were good-looking and had a nice shape. There only occurred noticeable differences in the perception of functional ability – where the mothers of children with NIU and facial dysmorphism viewed their children as being more attractive and independent as well as being physically stronger than the mothers of chil dren with NIU but without dysmorphism.Conclusions: Mothers from both groups have a subjective, highly positive image of their intellectually disabled children in relation to the majority of the tested parameters. The only difference related to physical abilities. The mothers of children with NIU and dysmorphism viewed their children as being more active, resilient, independent and physically stronger than those who had children with NIU but without dysmorphism.
Authors and Affiliations
Aleksandra Szulman-Wardal, Arkadiusz Mański
Keywords
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- EP ID EP77547
- DOI 10.5604/17307503.1213004
- Views 110
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