Relations between family environment and adjustment outcomes in young adults with spina bifida

Abstract

Thirty‐two young adults with spina bifida completed a questionnaire (Family Environment Scale) assessing their perceptions of family social environment while growing up. Additionally, subjects responded to a structured interview addressing their current employment status, residential situation, level of community mobility, and extent of social activity. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relation between family environment and adjustment as a young adult. With this limited sample, results indicated that perceived family environment explained variance in employment, community mobility, and social activity as an adult, even beyond that explained by lesion level and intelligence. Regression coefficients showed positive relations between perceived family encouragement of independence and achievement and young adult outcomes. In contrast, perceived moral/religious emphasis of the family and degree of family involvement with intellectual/cultural activities evidenced negative relations with the measures of young adult adjustment.

Contribution of Family Environment to Pediatric Cochlear Implant Users' Speech and Language Outcomes: Some Preliminary Findings

“…The results of the FES have been used as a predictor of life transitions in various clinical populations, including behavioral (e.g., ADHD), emotional (e.g., depression), and developmental disabilities, physically ill children (e.g., cancer, TBI), and congenital handicaps (e.g., cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy) (Biederman et al, 1995; Loomis, Javornisky, Monahan, Burke, & Lindsay, 1997; Rice, Harold, Shelton, & Thapar, 2006; Rivara et al, 1996; Rousey, Wild, & Blacher, 2002; Varni, Katz, Colegrove, & Dolgin, 1996). Because of its widespread use, predictive validity and reliability, the FES was used in the current investigation to identify family environment variables that might explain some of the large variability in cochlear implant outcomes.…”

Work Participation Among Persons With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury and Meningomyelocele1

“…In one study, in which patients with the lowest intelligence had been excluded, higher intelligence, better educational level, and higher independence in toiletting predicted participation in work (18). There is also evidence that family environment and behavioural functioning affect participation in work in persons with meningomyelocele (17,18).…”

The relationship of neuropsychological functioning to adaptation outcome in adolescents with spina bifida

“…Similarly, in children with SB, parent's stress, psychosocial adjustment, and marital satisfaction were found to predict children's psychological outcomes (Friedrich et al, 1991). Adolescents with SB from families that encouraged independence, treated the adolescent in an age-appropriate manner, and did not overprotect the adolescent, were more likely to have positive adaptation outcomes (Aldrich et al, 1992;Loomis et al, 1997;McAndrew, 1979;Pless, 1984). Family satisfaction, an individual's belief that their family is functioning in a satisfactory and supportive manner, captures an important component in family resourcefulness (Austin & Huberty, 1989;Smilkstein et al, 1982), and is included as a possible protective factor in the current study.…”