title: Family satisfaction, pain, and quality-of-life in emerging adults with spina bifida: a longitudinal analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study uses the Life Course Model for Spina Bifida (SB) to advance knowledge of factors associated with change in quality-of-life (QOL) among emerging adults with SB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight participants (mean [SD], 22.04 [2.16] yrs) completed self-report questionnaires at two time points, 15 mos apart. Four QOL domains (physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environment) were measured using the World Health Organization QOL-BREF version. SB clinical data were collected via chart reviews. Paired t tests and reliable change indices evaluated group- and individual-level QOL change, respectively. Multiple regression analyses tested the contributions of the Life Course variables in explaining change in QOL over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant group-level differences in the QOL domains were found between time 1 and time 2, but there was substantial individual variation in QOL over time. SB severity was related to a decline only in psychological QOL (B = -0.68, P = 0.02). Increased pain was associated with reduced physical health (B = -0.29, P = 0.049) and psychological (B = -0.29, P = 0.03) QOL at time 2, whereas greater family satisfaction was related to improved QOL in several domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should be aware of the negative impact of pain and the protective influence of family satisfaction on QOL in emerging adults with SB.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bellin
authors.forename: Brad E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Dicianno
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osteen
authors.forename: Nienke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dosa
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: T Andrew
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zabel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D012919:Social Behavior; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult