Correlation Between Self-Efficacy and Peer Communication in Adolescents with Craniofacial Defects

Introduction: The results of research on the psychosocial functioning of children and adolescents with facial and craniofacial defects indicate a generally complex situation of this group. Patients are rejected, discriminated against, have low self-esteem and low sense of self-worth. All this, in turn, leads to difficulties in undertaking and maintaining social interactions. Research Aim: The aim of the study is to identify the correlation between selected sociodemographic variables and self-efficacy among adolescents with facial and cranial malformations and their communication with peers. The research adopts two objectives. The first one is to identify the correlation between self-efficacy and peer communication in adolescents with craniofacial defects. The second one, in turn, is to assess the impact of selected sociodemographic variables on self-efficacy and peer communication in adolescents with facial and cranial defects. Research Method: The following methods are applied in the research: KompOs (the Personal Competence Scale adapted by Juczyński), SKAR (the Adolescent Peer Communication Scale by Napora) and a survey questionnaire. Results: Scores on the SKAR suggest that respondents showed slightly lower openness at the same time as perceiving greater difficulties in communication. In the conducted research, variables (age, gender, place of residence) do not significantly differentiate the overall sense of self-efficacy. No significant correlation was found between self-efficacy and communication between adolescents with facial and cranial deformities and their peers. Conclusion: The results of the analysis can provide a basis for designing future research in the area of communication of adolescents with facial and craniofacial defects in a peer group and their sense of self-efficacy. Research conducted to date in this area has shown positive results from the participation of people with this type of defect in interpersonal training.