Trajectories of psychosocial adjustment in adolescents with spina bifida: a 6-year, four-wave longitudinal follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
As a follow-up to an earlier cross-sectional study (Holmbeck et al., 2003), the current multimethod, multi-informant investigation examined individual growth in psychosocial adjustment across the adolescent transition in 2 samples: young adolescents with spina bifida (SB) and typically developing adolescents (N = 68 in both groups at Time 1).


METHODS
Growth curve modeling procedures were used to describe the developmental course of psychosocial adjustment across 4 waves of data collection from ages 8 to 15. Child gender was included in the models as a moderator of associations between illness status and adjustment trajectories.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings revealed that preadolescent differences between groups were maintained for several adjustment variables, indicating that adolescents with SB have enduring academic and attention problems and difficulties with social development (e.g., fewer friends and less influence during family interactions). For other outcomes, trajectories of adjustment levels for adolescents with SB converged on levels observed in comparison adolescents, indicating some areas of resilience. Girls with SB were at risk for increasing levels of social difficulties and negative perceptions of their physical appearance. Clinical implications are discussed.
Holmbeck
Grayson N
GN
Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 6525 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, USA. gholmbe@luc.edu
DeLucia
Christian
C
Essner
Bonnie
B
Kelly
Lauren
L
Zebracki
Kathy
K
Friedman
Deborah
D
Jandasek
Barbara
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012737:Sex Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012951:Socialization; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000523:psychology*