PEERS Social Skills Intervention Impact on Quality of Life of Teens with Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Mentor 1
Bonita Klein-Tasman
Start Date
10-5-2022 10:00 AM
Description
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare neurological disorder that is estimated to affect about 1 in 3,000 individuals. Teens with NF1 often display difficulties with social skills and communication that can significantly impact health-related quality of life. In the present study, we explore the effects of UCLA Program for Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) social skills intervention package on parent and self-reported teen quality of life before and after participating in a virtual 14-week social skills intervention. Teen health-related quality of life was examined using teen and parent reports on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL; Varni et al., 1999). The PedsQL measures quality of life across four domains: Physical Functioning, Emotional Functioning, Social Functioning, and School Functioning. A total quality of life score is also provided. Fourteen adolescents between the ages 12-17 (M=13.78, SD=1.67) and their parents completed the PedsQL before and following participation in a 14-week virtual social skills intervention. Paired samples t-tests were used to examine change in PedsQL scores following the intervention. The results based on the parent report measure indicated a significant decline in scores for Physical Functioning (p=.015), Social Functioning (p= .010), and School Functioning (p= <.001). For the teen self-report measure, there was a statistically significant improvement in quality of life on the health-related quality of life total scores (p =.031), Physical Functioning (p =.021), and Social Functioning (p =.070) scales. The PEERS intervention resulted in improvement in health-related quality of life based on teen self-report but appears to have resulted in a decline in health-related quality of life based on parent report. The parent reported decline in quality of life is paradoxical and requires further follow-up. When evaluating the effectiveness of social skills interventions, the PedsQL may be sensitive to measuring the impact of interventions on teens living with NF1.
PEERS Social Skills Intervention Impact on Quality of Life of Teens with Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare neurological disorder that is estimated to affect about 1 in 3,000 individuals. Teens with NF1 often display difficulties with social skills and communication that can significantly impact health-related quality of life. In the present study, we explore the effects of UCLA Program for Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) social skills intervention package on parent and self-reported teen quality of life before and after participating in a virtual 14-week social skills intervention. Teen health-related quality of life was examined using teen and parent reports on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL; Varni et al., 1999). The PedsQL measures quality of life across four domains: Physical Functioning, Emotional Functioning, Social Functioning, and School Functioning. A total quality of life score is also provided. Fourteen adolescents between the ages 12-17 (M=13.78, SD=1.67) and their parents completed the PedsQL before and following participation in a 14-week virtual social skills intervention. Paired samples t-tests were used to examine change in PedsQL scores following the intervention. The results based on the parent report measure indicated a significant decline in scores for Physical Functioning (p=.015), Social Functioning (p= .010), and School Functioning (p= <.001). For the teen self-report measure, there was a statistically significant improvement in quality of life on the health-related quality of life total scores (p =.031), Physical Functioning (p =.021), and Social Functioning (p =.070) scales. The PEERS intervention resulted in improvement in health-related quality of life based on teen self-report but appears to have resulted in a decline in health-related quality of life based on parent report. The parent reported decline in quality of life is paradoxical and requires further follow-up. When evaluating the effectiveness of social skills interventions, the PedsQL may be sensitive to measuring the impact of interventions on teens living with NF1.
