title: Self-management, satisfaction with family functioning, and the course of psychological symptoms in emerging adults with spina bifida.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore psychological symptoms in emerging adults with spina bifida (SB) and their association with self-management and satisfaction with family functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal data were collected at 2 time points, 15 months apart, in 48 individuals with SB. Reliable change indices and paired samples t-tests assessed change in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical regression models explored the contributions of SB severity, family satisfaction, and self-management in explaining change in psychological symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant group level differences in psychological symptoms were found across time in participants (Mean age 22 years), but significant individual-level change in anxiety symptoms (n = 13) and depressive symptoms (n = 9) was observed. Improved satisfaction with family functioning was associated with decreased anxiety symptoms (b = -0.30, p = .02), and increased SB self-management was related to reduced depressive symptoms (b = -0.63, p = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in self-management and satisfaction with family functioning may influence the course of psychological symptoms.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. mbellin@ssw.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Melissa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bellin
authors.forename: Nienke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dosa
authors.forename: T Andrew
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zabel
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.forename: Brad E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Dicianno
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osteen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires