Date of Award

10-16-2023

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Grayson Holmbeck

Abstract

Objective: Previous research suggests that tailored summer camp programs for youth with specific medical conditions, such as spina bifida (SB), may help campers improve independence and medical self-management skills. The evidence-based Independence Intervention at Camp Independence is geared towards enhancing the medical self-management skills and social skills of youth with SB, with the goal of improving their independence (O'Mahar et al., 2010). The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Independence Intervention at Camp Independence on first-time and veteran campers. This study aimed to (1) explore similarities and differences in first-time and veteran campers on demographics, health-related self-management skills, and social skills, and health-related and social goal selection pre-camp, (2) examine the effectiveness of the intervention by looking at change over time in health-related and social goal attainment from pre-camp to post-camp, (3) examine the relationship between change in goal attainment over time and health-related and social outcomes post-camp. Methods: Participants included first-time and veteran campers, aged 7-18 years, who participated in the Camp Independence Intervention between 2009-2018 (N = 140, Mage = 11.33, 60.7% female). Participants were categorized as either first-time or veteran campers. Participants selected one health-related and one social goal to focus on while at camp. Campers and parents completed measures of campers’ goal attainment, independence, and social functioning at preintervention and postintervention. Results: Veteran campers were on average older than first-time campers and tended to be from families with higher incomes. Both camper groups selected similar health-related and social goals. Regarding social goals, both groups selected more advanced social goals. Findings revealed a significant increase in health-related and social goal attainment for both groups. However, the hypothesis that greater change in goal attainment would significantly predict better health-related and social outcomes post-camp was not supported. Instead, camper group and IQ were found to be significant predictors of parent-reported outcomes, and this relationship was not moderated by camper age or group. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study provide insights into the effectiveness of the Independence Intervention program at Camp Independence. While findings did not show overwhelming differences in outcomes for first-time and veteran campers, findings do suggest that the intervention is effective in promoting health-related and social goal attainment in youth with SB. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of continuing to tailor interventions to meet the specific needs of different groups of campers and the individuals within each group. Further research is needed to identify best practices for implementing and improving the accessibility of such programs for youth with SB.

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