title: Longitudinal study of neuropsychological functioning and internalizing symptoms in youth with spina bifida: social competence as a mediator.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the longitudinal relationship between neuropsychological functioning and internalizing symptoms, as mediated by social competence in youth with spina bifida (SB).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 111 youth (aged 8-15 years, M = 11.37) with SB, their parents, and teachers completed questionnaires regarding attention, social competence, and internalizing symptoms. Youth also completed a battery of neuropsychological tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An indirect-only mediation model revealed that social competence mediated the relation between neuropsychological functioning and subsequent levels of teacher-reported internalizing symptoms, but not parent or youth report of internalizing symptoms. Specifically, better neuropsychological functioning was associated with better social competence, which, in turn, predicted fewer internalizing symptoms 2 years later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Youth with SB with lower levels of neuropsychological functioning may be at risk for poorer social competence and, as a result, greater internalizing symptoms. Interventions that promote social competence, while being sensitive to cognitive capacities, could potentially alleviate or prevent internalizing symptoms in these youth.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Loyola University Chicago and Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas jlenno2@luc.edu.
authors.forename: Jaclyn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Loyola University Chicago and Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas.
authors.forename: Kimberly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Klages
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Loyola University Chicago and Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas.
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Amaro
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Loyola University Chicago and Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas.
authors.forename: Caitlin B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Loyola University Chicago and Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas.
authors.forename: Grayson N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Holmbeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D066107:Social Skills; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: internalizing symptoms; neuropsychological functioning; social competence; spina bifida