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Adjusting to disfigurement: processes involved in dealing with being visibly different
1Barnsley Community and Priority Services, National Health Service Trust, Keresforth Centre, 11/12 Keresforth Close, Barnsley S70 6RS, UK. ARThompson@eggconnect.net
Clinical Psychology Review
|July 4, 2001
Summary
Adjusting to disfigurement involves interpreting oneself and social interactions, influenced by personal beliefs and environment. Effective interventions offer coping strategies and address cognitive processes for better psychosocial outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychosocial Health
Background:
- Disfigurement, from acquired or congenital conditions like burns or cleft palate, presents multifaceted psychosocial challenges.
- Understanding the adjustment process is crucial for researchers and clinicians aiming to mitigate negative impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current psychological literature on adjustment to disfigurement.
- To identify factors influencing the adjustment process and effective intervention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review across psychological, medical, and nursing databases.
- Analysis of studies on individual and societal factors in disfigurement adjustment.
Main Results:
- Adjustment is influenced by how individuals interpret their disfigurement, self-perception, and social encounters.
- Interpretations are shaped by cognitive self-schemas interacting with social context.
- Effective interventions focus on practical social strategies and cognitive processing.
Conclusions:
- Many existing studies have methodological limitations and lack theoretical grounding.
- Further research, particularly longitudinal and qualitative studies, is needed to understand lived experiences.
- Enhanced understanding is vital for developing effective clinical interventions for disfiguring conditions.
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