Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Vol. 27, No. 5, 2002, pp. 461-473
© 2002 Society of Pediatric Psychology
A Longitudinal Study of Pubertal Timing, Parent-Child Conflict, and Cohesion in Families of Young Adolescents With Spina Bifida
Loyola University of Chicago
Anne E. Kazak served as the Action Editor for this article. All correspondence should be sent to Grayson N. Holmbeck, Loyola University of Chicago, Department of Psychology, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, Illinois 60626. E-mail: gholmbe{at}luc.edu .
Objective: To study longitudinal associations between perceived pubertal timing and family conflict and cohesion during the transition to adolescence in 68 families of children with spina bifida and 68 matched families with able-bodied children. Children were 8 or 9 years old at Time 1 and 10 or 11 years old at Time 2.
Methods: Family conflict and cohesion were assessed with observational data and maternal, paternal, and child reports on questionnaires. Perceived pubertal timing was assessed with maternal report.
Results: Consistent with the literature on typically developing young adolescents, prospective longitudinal analyses revealed that early maturity was associated with higher levels of conflict and decreases in cohesion in families with able-bodied children. Contrary to these findings, perceived pubertal timing had less of an impact (or the opposite impact) in families of children with spina bifida. Findings were robust across respondents and methods of data collection.
Conclusions: Findings based on multimethod and multisource data suggest that familial response to developmental change differs across context (spina bifida vs. able-bodied). Possible reasons for differential responses to the adolescent transition are reviewed. Services are likely to be enhanced if health professionals routinely discuss adolescent developmental issues with parents and youths during clinic visits.
Key words: spina bifida; physical disability; family; puberty; pubertal timing; adolescence; conflict; cohesion.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  I. P. R. Vermaes, J. R. M. Gerris, and J. M. A. M. Janssens Parents' Social Adjustment in Families of Children with Spina Bifida: A Theory-driven Review J. Pediatr. Psychol., November 1, 2007; 32(10): 1214 - 1226. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. N. Holmbeck, E. Franks Bruno, and B. Jandasek Longitudinal Research in Pediatric Psychology: An Introduction to the Special Issue J. Pediatr. Psychol., November 1, 2006; 31(10): 995 - 1001. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. M. Coakley, G. N. Holmbeck, and F. B. Bryant Constructing a Prospective Model of Psychosocial Adaptation in Young Adolescents with Spina Bifida: An Application of Optimal Data Analysis J. Pediatr. Psychol., November 1, 2006; 31(10): 1084 - 1099. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. DeLucia and S. C. Pitts Applications of Individual Growth Curve Modeling for Pediatric Psychology Research J. Pediatr. Psychol., November 1, 2006; 31(10): 1002 - 1023. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. N. Greenley, G. N. Holmbeck, and B. M. Rose Predictors of Parenting Behavior Trajectories Among Families of Young Adolescents with and without Spina Bifida J. Pediatr. Psychol., November 1, 2006; 31(10): 1057 - 1071. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. N. Holmbeck A Developmental Perspective on Adolescent Health and Illness: An Introduction to the Special Issues J. Pediatr. Psychol., July 1, 2002; 27(5): 409 - 416. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|