title: Health-related quality of life and psychosocial developmental trajectory in young female beneficiaries with JIA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is generally recognized that for all children the fulfilling of age-specific psychosocial developmental tasks in childhood is of great importance to adjustment in adult life, including participation in society. For young adults with JIA this is more difficult. We assume that the achievement of psychosocial milestones while growing up (psychosocial developmental trajectory) is also related to labour participation. A proportion of all young adults with JIA have to apply for disability benefits. This study assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the psychosocial developmental trajectory of young female beneficiaries with JIA compared with peers from the Dutch general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young females with disability benefits because of JIA completed the RAND-36 (HRQOL) and the Course of Life Questionnaire (psychosocial developmental trajectory). Differences between respondents and the peer group were tested using analysis of variance and logistic regression analysis by group and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The beneficiaries reported worse HRQOL than the peer group and achieved fewer milestones, or achieved the milestones at a later age than the peer group in the autonomy, social and psychosexual domain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young females with JIA who have to apply for disability benefits are at risk for impaired HRQOL and a delay in their psychosocial developmental trajectory. Parents, physicians and other health-care providers should pay systematic attention to the development of social and independent functioning of children with JIA in order to optimize their adaptation to society at the time of transition to adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Psychosocial Department, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, A3-241, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. l.haverman@amc.nl
authors.forename: Lotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haverman
authors.forename: Eefje J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Verhoof
authors.forename: Heleen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maurice-Stam
authors.forename: Hugo S A
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Heymans
authors.forename: Daniëlle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gerlag
authors.forename: Marion A J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Rossum
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grootenhuis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D011584:Psychology; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult