Affiliations: Department of Psychology, Loyola University of
Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA | Shriners Hospitals for Children, Chicago, IL,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Lauren Kelly, M.A., Loyola
University Chicago, Department of Psychology, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago,
IL 60626, USA. Tel.: +1 773 5088907; Fax: +1 773 5088713; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to review research concerning
adolescent development and family functioning among youth with spina bifida
myelomeningocele (SBM). Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by
substantial changes in biological, psychological, and social functioning, as
well as transformation and reorganization within the family system. A
biopsychosocial-contextual model of development was utilized to describe the
interface between normative adolescent development and the experience of a
chronic health condition among youth with SBM. Major empirical findings
relevant to family functioning in adolescents with SBM are presented, including
the family environment, parenting behaviors, and marital and parental
functioning. There is variability with regards to the influence of SBM on the
family system and research identifies both disruption and resilience in
families. Current research suggests that families of youth with SBM may have
higher levels of family stress, difficulties with family roles, lower levels of
cohesion, less adaptive parental control and overprotection, and a greater risk
for child and parental psychosocial adjustment difficulties. The review
concludes with a discussion of the clinical implications of these findings for
the care of youth with SBM and directions for future research.
Keywords: Spina bifida myelomeningocele, adolescence, family functioning
