Interrelationships of sex, level of lesion, and transition outcomes among young adults with myelomeningocele

Aim To advance understanding of the interrelationships of sex, level of lesion (LOL), self-management, community integration (employment, independent living), and quality of life (QOL) in young adults with myelomeningocele. Method A multicenter convenience sample of 50 individuals with myelomeningocele, 18 to 25 years of age (mean age 21y 5mo, SD 2y), participated in a structured clinical interview on self-management (Adolescent Self-Management and Independence Scale II [AMIS II]) and completed a self-report questionnaire comprising standardized measures. QOL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF instrument. A chart review yielded clinical data. Results Most participants were Caucasian (78%), female (56%: 28 females, 22 males), unemployed (58%), and in supervised living environments (74%). Eighty per cent had a history of hydrocephalus requiring shunt placement. A lumbar LOL was most frequently reported (64%), followed by a sacral LOL (22%), and thoracic LOL (7%). Males were more likely to report employment (p=0.008), but females had greater success in transitioning into independent living settings (p=0.015). LOL was a significant predictor of specific dimensions of self-management, employment, and QOL (p