Testing the Transition Preparation Training Program: Well-being of relationships outcomes

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Adolescent Psychology

Background:

• Adolescents with spina bifida face unique challenges in social development and healthcare transitions.
• Understanding the role of social support and relationship quality is crucial for their overall well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of relationship types and social support availability on relationship satisfaction in adolescents with spina bifida.
• To evaluate changes in relationship ratings, social support, and overall satisfaction following a health care transition intervention.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-design ANOVA was employed with 65 adolescents with spina bifida.
• Participants were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (n=31) or a control group (n=34) in an investigator-blinded manner.

Main Results:

• Significant main effects were found for support type, relationship type, and group assignment.
• The treatment group showed a slight increase in mean overall satisfaction social support ratings (pre=38.63, post=39.04).
• The control group's mean satisfaction social support ratings remained unchanged (pre=39.95, post=39.95).

Conclusions:

• Relationship type and social support significantly influence relationship satisfaction and well-being in adolescents with spina bifida.
• Incorporating discussions about social networks into transition preparation may enhance the evaluation of necessary support systems.