eprintid: 14737 rev_number: 14 userid: 1344 importid: 734 dir: disk0/00/01/47/37 datestamp: 2012-10-04 13:59:08 lastmod: 2017-10-18 21:55:19 status_changed: 2012-10-04 13:59:08 type: article metadata_visibility: show item_issues_count: 0 eprint_status: archive creators_name: Chan, WM creators_name: Dicianno, BE creators_email: creators_email: dicianno@pitt.edu creators_id: creators_id: DICIANNO creators_orcid: creators_orcid: 0000-0003-0738-0192 title: Virtual Socialization in Adults With Spina Bifida ispublished: pub divisions: sch_hrs_rehabscitech full_text_status: public abstract: Objective: To use spina bifida (SB) as a model of chronic physical disability to study the associations of virtual socialization, friendships, and quality of life (QOL) in adults. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Subjects were recruited from residential living facilities, outpatient clinics, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) research registry. Patients: Inclusion criteria were age between 18 and 80 years and clinical diagnoses of SB cystica (myelomeningocele) and hydrocephalus. The exclusion criterion was the diagnosis of SB occulta. Sixty-three eligible adults were enrolled, and all completed the study. Methods: The survey via questionnaire was performed in person or over the telephone. Main Outcome Measurements: Data collected included the World Health Organization's Medical Outcomes Study 26-item Short Form, Economic Self-Sufficiency from the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique Short Form, virtual socializing habits, and number of friends. Three linear regression models were performed, each with a unique dependent variable: number of friends, psychological QOL, or social QOL. The following independent variables were included in all models: age, gender, ethnicity, economic self-sufficiency, marital status, education level, lesion level, health status, user group, collection method, and time spent virtually socializing. In addition, each regression model included the dependent variables from the other 2 models in its independent variables. Results: Increased degree of virtual socialization (VS) was associated with a greater number of friends (P = .003, r = .684). Mean (standard deviation) numbers of friends by VS groups were the following: users, n = 4.9 ± 2.7; semi-users, n = 3.8 ± 2.7; and nonusers, n = 2.1 ± 2.3, which represent a 2.3 times greater number of friends between the users and nonusers. The effect of virtual socialization on QOL was also positive, however, not statistically significant. Conclusions: People with chronic physical disabilities, such as SB, are at high risk for peer rejection and long-term social avoidance. Users of the most immersive forms of virtual socialization, have more real world friends than both semi-users and nonusers. Any form of VS, whether immersive or real time, may improve the opportunity for meaningful social encounters. Prospective intervention studies are needed to elucidate whether a causal positive relationship between virtual socialization and friendships exists. Further research is needed to clarify virtual socialization's impact on QOL; however, the upward trend in all 4 domains of QOL across user groups suggests similar potential benefits. © 2011 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. date: 2011-03-01 date_type: published publication: PM and R volume: 3 number: 3 pagerange: 219 - 225 refereed: TRUE issn: 1934-1482 centers: cen_other_herl id_number: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2010.12.002 pmid: 21402368 mesh_headings: Adult mesh_headings: Cross-Sectional Studies mesh_headings: Disabled Persons--psychology mesh_headings: Female mesh_headings: Friends mesh_headings: Health Status mesh_headings: Humans mesh_headings: Internet mesh_headings: Linear Models mesh_headings: Male mesh_headings: Quality of Life mesh_headings: Questionnaires mesh_headings: Social Support mesh_headings: Spina Bifida Occulta--psychology citation: Chan, WM and Dicianno, BE (2011) Virtual Socialization in Adults With Spina Bifida. PM and R, 3 (3). 219 - 225. ISSN 1934-1482 document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/14737/1/licence.txt