Mastery motivation and executive control as predictors of health self-management in adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy or myelomeningocele.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: To examine mastery motivation and executive control as predictors of health self-management behaviors in adolescents and young adults with congenital neurodevelopmental conditions. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: Participants were two groups of adolescents and young adults, ages 13-29 years, with potential for independent living, including 49 with cerebral palsy and 39 with spina bifida myelomeningocele living with a parent/caregiver. Participants were administered measures of mastery motivation, executive control (executive functions and executive behaviors), and health self-management. RESULTS: Group differences in mastery motivation and executive control were not significant. Self-reported health self-management was higher in the group with spina bifida myelomeningocele, but group differences in parent ratings of self-management were not significant. Mastery motivation and executive control explained significant portions of variance in aspects of health self-management. There was evidence that executive behaviors mediated the association between mastery motivation and specific self-management behaviors. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Results indicate that mastery motivation and executive control are significant predictors of health self-management in transition-age youth with congenital neurodevelopmental conditions. Findings highlight the importance of assessing and addressing motivational and executive needs in developing interventions to promote specific health self-management behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).