A Qualitative Study of Children's Perspectives on Their Peer Relationships in the Context of Living With a Craniofacial Anomaly

Objective: To gain understanding of perspectives on peer relationships from children with congenital craniofacial anomalies (CFA). Design: This was qualitative research based in a phenomenological approach, using narratives that captured children's responses to open-ended and objective questions about peer relations and life with a CFA. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded according to thematic categories. Setting: Children were patients at a reconstructive plastic surgery center in an urban hospital and medical school and were recruited from a regional support organization for families of children with CFA that was associated with the hospital. Patients, Participants: Nine children with congenital CFA aged 9 to 14 years. Main Outcome Measures: Thematic coding categories were developed from the narratives using an open coding strategy; these categories focused on aspects of children's interactions with peers and their appraisals of the role of their CFA in their lives. Re...