Cognitive, self-concept, and body image measures of normal, cleft palate, and obese adolescents

Using discriminant function analyses, this study attempted to establish linear combinations of variables that would identify group membership correctly. Groups of normal (N = 100), cleft palate (N = 51), and obese (N = 22) adolescents responded to measures of cognitive sytle and structure, body image, and self-concept. Linear combinations of congitive measures were not effective in differentiating group membership. Body image measures, in combination, clearly distinguished obese adolescents from the other two groups. A linear combination of self-concept measures differentiated adolescents with clefts from normals, with the former group having a pattern of higher self-esteem and lower perceived acceptability by their parents.