Self-perceptions of romantic appeal in adolescents with a cleft lip and/or palate

•Fewer adolescents with CL/P were in a relationship compared to a reference group.•Adolescents with CL/P reported greater emotional wellbeing than a reference group.•Adolescents with CL/P reported greater global self-worth than a reference group.•A lack of experience of romantic relationships did not negatively impact wellbeing.

During adolescence, romantic relationships are a key developmental milestone. Coupled with the increasing salience of appearance and social acceptance, adolescents with an appearance-altering condition may feel particularly vulnerable when it comes to romantic relationships. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of romantic experiences among adolescents with a cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P), and to investigate how these experiences could be related to depressive symptoms and global self-worth. The study included 661 Norwegian adolescents with CL/P, who were compared to a large national sample. The prevalence of romantic relationships was lower among adolescents with CL/P compared to the reference group, although the overall impact on depressive symptoms and global self-worth appeared to be low. This study is one of few to explore the impact of a congenital visible condition on experiences of romantic relationships and provides preliminary insight into a significant, yet complex topic.