Gender as a moderator of memory after traumatic brain injury in children.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possibility that gender has a moderating effect on memory after pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Controlled group study. Gender effects between and within groups were evaluated by means of effect size comparisons and hierarchical regression analysis.


METHODS
Regional rehabilitation center.


METHODS
Seventy children with TBI, selected from a 4-year series of consecutive referrals, and 70 demographically matched controls.


METHODS
Screening version of the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML-S) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III).


RESULTS
Boys with TBI performed worse than girls with TBI, and worse than their counterparts in the control group, on the WRAML-S. There was no gender effect in the control group. Gender explained an additional 9% of the variance in WRAML-S performance over and above injury severity and age variables. However, gender differences were largely attenuated when speed of information processing, as assessed by the WISC-III, was used as a covariate.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of TBI on children's memory appears to be moderated by gender and may be mediated by speed of information processing.
Donders
Jacobus
J
Psychology Service, The Mary Free Bed Hospital, 235 Wealthy SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA. jdonders@mfbrc.com
Woodward
Helen R
HR
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D020207:Coma, Post-Head Injury / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008606:Mental Processes; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014888:Wechsler Scales