Social, educational and vocational status of 48 young adult females with gonadal dysgenesis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the educational, vocational and social function of young adults with gonadal dysgenesis.


METHODS
Forty-eight female patients with gonadal dysgenesis (17, 45XO; 26, 45XO/46XX or other mosaics; and five pure gonadal dysgenesis) followed by our multidisciplinary team from childhood, were re-evaluated in adult age.


RESULTS
Mean age +/- SD at diagnosis was 11.4 +/- 5.0 years and mean age at the time of survey was 29.6 +/- 6.3 years. The mean final height for the patients was 145.5 +/- 8.3 cm (range 134-170 cm). Mean verbal IQ (WISC-R) for the 39 subjects tested was 101.4 +/- 20.7 and mean performance IQ was 86.8 +/- 17.7. No difference in verbal IQ levels was found between the various karyotype groups. Twenty-five had an academic education. All were employed except for one housewife; 37 work in white collar professions. A significant correlation was found between verbal IQ and education (P = 0.005) and between verbal IQ and profession (P = 0.005). Twenty-three served in the army. Fourteen are married: three have an adopted child and two a child born after in vitro fertilization (IVF); others are waiting for IVF or adoption. Five patients had some form of psychiatric problem that required psychiatric or psychological treatment in the past (two had transitory anorexia nervosa and three behavioural problems). Sixty-three per cent reported having wide and satisfactory social relations but limited to female friends.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive adjustment in the professional area and fair adjustment in the social area were not related to physical stigmata or to any other independent variable tested, but rather to intellectual ability and a high degree of achievement motivation.
Aran
O
O
Institute of Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Galatzer
A
A
Kauli
R
R
Nagelberg
N
N
Robicsek
Y
Y
Laron
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006059:Gonadal Dysgenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics; D007621:Karyotyping; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008889:Military Personnel; D009790:Occupations; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012923:Social Class