Li Xinyu, Li Chenlong, Zhang Tianyu, Xu Jing, Fu Yaoyao
Department of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
ENT Institute, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
BMC Psychol. 2025 Jul 24;13(1):826. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03073-5.
Congenital microtia significantly impacts children's psychological health, yet there has been limited focus on the effect of ear reconstruction surgery on psychological improvements, especially its pathway. This study aims to explore the role of ear appearance in improving psychological health in individuals with congenital unilateral microtia based on social identity theory, highlighting the limited understanding of the specific pathways involved in this relationship, and investigating how social function and benefit mediate the connection between ear appearance and psychological health in patients who underwent autologous cartilage ear reconstruction.
A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 96 patients with congenital unilateral microtia between January and June 2024 at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, along with responses to the EAR-Q and Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using multiple linear regression and the PROCESS macro in SPSS.
Mediation analysis revealed that social function and emotion mediated the relationship between ear appearance and psychological function (total effect = 0.82; direct effect = 0.21; indirect effect = 0.61). Three mediation pathways were identified: ear appearance influenced psychological function through social function, emotional benefit, and a combined effect of both.
These findings underscore the critical role of social interaction and emotional health in shaping psychological outcomes for individuals with congenital unilateral microtia following reconstruction. The results offer valuable insights for developing targeted interventions to enhance psychological well-being in this population.
先天性小耳畸形对儿童心理健康有显著影响，但对于耳部重建手术对心理改善的作用，尤其是其作用途径的关注有限。本研究旨在基于社会认同理论探讨耳部外观在改善先天性单侧小耳畸形患者心理健康方面的作用，强调对这种关系中具体途径的了解有限，并调查社会功能和益处如何介导接受自体软骨耳部重建患者的耳部外观与心理健康之间的联系。
进行了一项横断面研究，于2024年1月至6月在复旦大学附属眼耳鼻喉科医院纳入了96例先天性单侧小耳畸形患者。收集了社会人口学和临床数据，以及EAR-Q和格拉斯哥儿童益处量表（GCBI）问卷的回答。使用多元线性回归和SPSS中的PROCESS宏进行数据分析。
中介分析表明，社会功能和情感介导了耳部外观与心理功能之间的关系（总效应=0.82；直接效应=0.21；间接效应=0.61）。确定了三条中介途径：耳部外观通过社会功能、情感益处以及两者的综合作用影响心理功能。
这些发现强调了社会互动和情感健康在先天性单侧小耳畸形患者重建后心理结果形成中的关键作用。研究结果为制定有针对性的干预措施以提高该人群的心理健康提供了有价值的见解。
