Paternal correlates of cognitive and behavioral functioning in children with myelomeningocele
Melissa M Wohlfeiler1, Michelle M Macias, Conway F Saylor
1Department of Psychology, The Citadel, Charleston, SC, USA.
Insights
Fathers
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Family Studies
Background:
- Myelomeningocele (MM) is a complex congenital condition affecting child development.
- Understanding factors influencing cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children with MM is crucial.
- Paternal influences on child adjustment are increasingly recognized but require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate paternal correlates of cognitive and behavioral functioning in children with myelomeningocele.
- To differentiate paternal contributions from maternal and child-specific factors.
- To inform family-centered interventions for children with MM.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 48 parent dyads with children aged 4-12 years with myelomeningocele.
- Assessed paternal and maternal parenting stress, perceived social support, and family resources.
- Included child medical severity and functional status (ambulation, shunting) as covariates.
- Utilized regression analyses to identify significant predictors of child functioning.
Main Results:
- Paternal variables significantly correlated with behavioral functioning, but not cognitive functioning.
- Paternal personal distress and maternal perceived social support predicted child behavioral outcomes.
- Child medical severity and household income were the primary predictors of cognitive functioning.
Conclusions:
- Fathers play a unique and significant role in the behavioral adjustment of children with myelomeningocele.
- Maternal support also contributes to child behavioral functioning.
- Interventions should consider both parents to support the development and adjustment of children with MM.
Abstract:
This study examined paternal correlates of the cognitive and behavioral functioning of children with myelomeningocele, when controlling for maternal and biological/child correlates as possible sources of variance. Participants were 48 parent dyads of children with myelomeningocele (21 males, 27 females) between the ages of 4 and 12 years (mean 8y, 2mo, SD 2y 3mo). Lesion levels of participants ranged from the thoracic to sacral (thoracic-L3: n=15; L4-L5: n=15; sacral or lipomeningocele: n=18), of whom 38 had been shunted for hydrocephalus. Half of the participants (n=24) were community ambulators. Potential predictors of cognitive and behavioral functioning included paternal and maternal parenting stress, as assessed by the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form paternal, and maternal perceptions of support and resources, as assessed by the Family Resource Scale and the Family Support Scale, and child medical severity. Paternal variables significantly correlated with behavioral functioning but not with cognitive functioning. Regression analyses revealed that paternal personal distress and maternal perceived adequacy of social support accounted for significant variance in overall child behavioral functioning. Only child medical severity and annual household income explained significant variance in overall child cognitive functioning. These findings add to the growing body of theory and research documenting that fathers make unique and significant contributions to child adjustment in children with myelomeningocele. Both fathers and mothers need to be considered in interventions supporting development and adjustment of children with myelomeningocele and their families.
