Posttraumatic growth in adolescents and young adults with cleft lip and/or palate: Associations with social support, coping, and socioeconomic circumstances.

Adolescents and young adults with cleft lip and/or palate face long-term functional, appearance-related, and psychosocial challenges, yet little is known about their posttraumatic growth (PTG). This cross-sectional study examined PTG and its correlates in 132 participants recruited from a tertiary hospital in Southwest China. PTG, social support, and coping were measured using validated questionnaires, and associated factors were identified using LASSO regression followed by multivariable linear regression. Greater social support was consistently associated with higher PTG, whereas inability of household income to cover medical expenses was linked to lower PTG. Additional associations with payment method, only-child status, and diagnosis were observed in the supplementary model based on lambda.min. These findings suggest that PTG in this population is shaped by both psychosocial resources and financial strain. Long-term multidisciplinary care should therefore address not only emotional and social support, but also the economic burden faced by families.