Socioeconomic Status, Cerebellar Structure, and Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele

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dc.contributor.advisorBick, Johanna R.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFletcher, Jack M.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberKulesz, Paulina A.
dc.creatorBiekman, Brian
dc.date.accessioned2019-09-15T21:11:50Z
dc.date.available2019-09-15T21:11:50Z
dc.date.createdAugust 2019
dc.date.issued2019-08
dc.date.submittedAugust 2019
dc.date.updated2019-09-15T21:11:50Z
dc.description.abstractSpina bifida myelomeningocele (SBM) is a congenital neurological defect associated with abnormal cerebellar structure and poorer executive functions (EFs) in children. This study investigated the impact of cerebellar volume on EFs in children with SBM and the potential moderating effect of socioeconomic status (SES). 25 typically developing (TD) children and 74 children with SBM underwent a structural MRI, which was used to measure the volumes of three cerebellar regions: the anterior lobe, posterior lobe, and corpus medullare. A parent-report questionnaire was administered which measured two major EF constructs: metacognition and behavioral regulation. We hypothesized that a larger posterior lobe and corpus medullare would predict greater EFs in both constructs, and that this prediction would be larger in children with SBM. We also hypothesized that, for children with SBM, this prediction would be larger in children with lower SES. Multivariate multiple regression analyses found that the combination of the EF constructs was predicted by group (trace=.122, p=.003) and age (trace=.114, p=.005), such that parents of younger children and children with SBM reported worse EFs. Specifically, group predicted metacognition (β=1.33, 95% CI: [40, 2.25], p=.005) and behavioral regulation at the trend level (β=.92, 95% CI: [-.07, 1.89], p=.07), and age predicted behavioral regulation (β=-.31, 95% CI: [-.51, -.10], p=.004). For children with SBM, age predicted the combination of the constructs (trace=.107, p=.03), and specifically predicted behavioral regulation (β=-.29, 95% CI: [-.55, -.03], p=.03). However, no cerebellum volume measurement significantly predicted either EF construct. The group x volume and group x SES interactions were also non-significant. Therefore, the question of the impact of cerebellar volume on EFs in SBM remains inconclusive.
dc.description.departmentPsychology, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/4688
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectExecutive functions
dc.subjectSpina bifida
dc.subjectSocioeconomic status (SES)
dc.titleSocioeconomic Status, Cerebellar Structure, and Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
thesis.degree.departmentPsychology, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychology, Clinical
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts

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