Adolescent predictors of emerging adulthood milestones in youth with spina bifida.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the predictive utility of demographic (illness status and SES), individual (neurocognitive functioning and intrinsic motivation), and family-based (parental intrusiveness) factors during adolescence on the achievement of emerging adulthood milestones in youth with and without spina bifida (SB).


METHODS
Questionnaire and observational data were collected from 14/15-year-old adolescents with SB, typically developing peers, mothers, and teachers. Emerging adulthood milestones (i.e., leaving home, attending college, employment, romantic relationship experience, and number of friendships) were assessed at ages 18/19 years in the full sample and subset of youth who graduated from high school.


RESULTS
Typically, developing youth were more likely to achieve milestones compared to youth with SB in the full sample but not when only high school graduates were compared. Executive function, SES, intrinsic motivation, and parental intrusiveness emerged as significant predictors for particular milestones.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions targeting executive function, intrinsic motivation, and parenting behavior may facilitate achievement of emerging adulthood milestones.
Zukerman
Jill M
JM
Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660, USA.
Devine
Katie A
KA
Holmbeck
Grayson N
GN
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D003071:Cognition; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016487:Parenting; D010379:Peer Group; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult