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Cross‐informant agreement between adolescents with myelomeningocele and their parents
Author(s) -
Sawin Kathleen J,
Bellin Melissa Hayden,
Builta Elizabeth,
Vasel Laura,
Buran Constance F,
Brei Timothy J
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1017/s0012162206000417
Subject(s) - psychology , spina bifida , developmental psychology , competence (human resources) , clinical psychology , medicine , pediatrics , social psychology
The development of self‐management skills by adolescents with myelomeningocele is an ongoing process. Previous studies lack consensus about what data can be accurately obtained from adolescents. This cross‐sectional study using a convenience sample of 66 adolescent‐parent dyads evaluated whether adolescents with myelomeningocele and their parents are interchangeable reporters of data. Adolescents' ages ranged from 12 to 21 years with a mean of 16 years 2 months (SD 2y 8mo); 38 were female, 28 were male; 30% had thoracic lesions, 32% had lumbar lesions, 15% had lumbosacral lesions, 23% had sacral lesions, and 85% had ventriculoperitoneal shunts. In this analysis, participants reported activities (decision‐making, household responsibility, and friendship activities) and select outcomes (functional status, self‐management, and social competence) similarly. However, differences emerged in reports of beliefs (adolescent future expectations, family variables) and select developmental competencies (school, job, athletic, behavioral, attractiveness, and romantic appeal). Analysis using t‐test and interclass correlations supported a pattern of adolescent‐parent agreement in areas of observable behavior and differences in more subjective domains such as perception of developmental competencies.