Study Name: The role of attributions, shame, and self-compassion on the mental health of individuals with facial differences.

About the Researcher: Joel Moxey is 21 years old student studying at Anglia Ruskin University. Joel was born with a facial difference; a congenital facial palsy. Joel has had facial reanimation surgery to try to improve the movement of the face in the left side. This has involved a number of surgeries, with a nerve being taken from the foot and a muscle from the chest, being transferred to the face. Joel's facial difference and experiences with it have have led to curiosity about social interactions; specifically other people’s behaviour in regards to Joel's difference. This interest led Joel to study psychology at degree level and then sign up for a masters in psychology, which this study is working towards. Joel wants to draw more attention to the day-to-day interactions people with facial differences are confronted with and to investigate the way we interpret these interactions, especially the negative ones, and how this may impact on psychological well-being.

Description: This study investigates whether the mental health of those with facial differences is affected by the way they interpret the negative reactions of others. This study will also investigate whether shame and self-compassion plays a role in this interaction. You will be invited to complete a questionnaire with some demographic and appearance questions. This will be followed by questions about self-compassion, mental health, and shame. This study is completed online at a time and place of your convenience.

Eligibility: To take part you need to be aged 18 or over and have any form of facial difference (for example; facial palsies, cleft lip and palate, skin conditions that affect the face, birthmarks, burns, acquired disfigurement, scarring from accidents, craniofacial disorders, disfigurement from head and neck cancer, microtia, and neurofibromatosis affecting facial appearance).

Duration: 15 minutes in duration.  

Researchers: Joel Moxey, [email protected], Dr Debora Vasconcelos e Sa, [email protected].

Link: https://aruspsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2mKEMNLvvnkVwTX

For more information or to take part in this study please use the link above or contact the researchers directly.

The study has received ethics approval by the School Research Ethics Panel (SREP) and ratified by the Faculty Research Ethics Panel under the terms of Anglia Ruskin University’s Policy and Code of Practice for the Conduct of Research with Human Participants.