Coping Strategies and Emotional Styles in Iranian Mothers of Children With Cleft Lip and Palate

ObjectiveTo compare coping strategies and maternal emotional styles among mothers of children with cleft lip and palate (CL/P) and mothers of children without CL/P.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAhvaz Multidisciplinary Cleft Lip and Palate Team, Speech Therapy Clinics in Ahvaz.ParticipantsMothers of children with CL/P (n = 66); mothers of children without CL/P (n = 59); total n = 125.InterventionThe Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) and Maternal Emotional Styles Questionnaire (MESQ) were completed by mothers of children with CL/P and children without CL/P.Main Outcome MeasuresCoping strategies and emotional styles of mothers of children with CL/P.ResultsThe results showed that after controlling for the effect of income, there was a significant difference between the coping styles and emotional styles of the 2 groups of mothers. Mothers of children with CL/P had an emotion-oriented style when faced with stressful situations, and their way of dealing with their children's emotions was an emotional dismissive style. While mothers of children without CL/P had task-oriented and avoidance-oriented style when faced with stressful situations, and their way of dealing with their children's emotions was an emotional coaching style.ConclusionsThe results show that mothers of children with CL/P use less effective coping styles in stressful situations and also often deal with their children's emotions in a dismissive manner. Therefore, due to the important role of mother-child interaction in the process of multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of children with CL/P, it is better to consider the psychological and emotional state of their mothers.