Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-17-2026
Abstract
Many young adults with spina bifida experience bladder and bowel leakage, but clinic visits often rely on people remembering and summarizing their symptoms over long periods. In this study, we asked participants to report their experiences each day for one month using simple phone-based check-ins. We found that leakage does not affect every day in the same way. On days when symptoms were more frequent or harder to manage, participants reported worse mood, more worry, and were more likely to avoid activities. These day-to-day experiences also related to over- all quality of life at the end of the month. For clinical practice, this means that “average” symptom reports may miss important patterns. Tracking symptoms in real time can help clinicians and patients better understand what is happening in daily life and tailor treatment plans to support independence, participation, and well-being.
Recommended Citation
Hensel, D. J., Young, A. I., & Szymanski , K. M. (2026). The association of daily urinary and bowel incontinence with emotional functioning in young adults with spina bifida: an ecological momentary assessment study. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 58, jrm45594. https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v58.45594
Comments
Copyright (c) 2026 Devon J. Hensel, Audrey I. Young, Konrad M. Szymanski
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.