Adaptation Among Adolescents and Adults With Klinefelter Syndrome

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Klinefelter Syndrome

Study type: Observational

Funder types: NIH

Identifiers

NCT00896272

09-HG-N142

999909142

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to understand the impact of living with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) and the factors that contribute to adaptation in adolescents and adults. Individuals with KS may have variable symptoms, including hypogonadism, gynecomastia, learning disabilities, and delay and underdevelopment of secondary sexual characteristics. Perhaps the most challenging symptom of KS is infertility, which seems to be a universal symptom. It is not fully understood how males with KS conceptualize their condition, cope with their diagnosis, and adapt to living with this condition. In this study, Lazarus and Folkman s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping provides a framework for examining coping and adaptation in males with KS. A cross-sectional research design using a quantitative survey will be utilized to examine the relationships among appraisals (illness perceptions and perceived stigma), time elapsed since learning of diagnosis, coping, and adaptation. Adolescents and adults with KS will be recruited from national KS support networks via website postings, email listservs, and printed newsletter postings. Adolescents will also be recruited from a private practice. Participants will have the option to complete an online or paper version of the survey. The main outcome variable is adaptation to living with a KS diagnosis.

Full description

This study aims to understand the impact of living with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) and the factors that contribute to adaptation in adolescents and adults. Individuals with KS may have variable symptoms, including hypogonadism, gynecomastia, learning disabilities, and delay and underdevelopment of secondary sexual characteristics. Perhaps the most challenging symptom of KS is infertility, which seems to be a universal symptom. It is not fully understood how males with KS conceptualize their condition, cope with their diagnosis, and adapt to living with this condition. In this study, Lazarus and Folkman s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping provides a framework for examining coping and adaptation in males with KS. A cross-sectional research design using a quantitative survey will be utilized to examine the relationships among appraisals (illness perceptions and perceived stigma), time elapsed since learning of diagnosis, coping, and adaptation. Adolescents and adults with KS will be recruited from national KS support networks via website postings, email listservs, and printed newsletter postings. Adolescents will also be recruited from a private practice. Participants will have the option to complete an online or paper version of the survey. The main outcome variable is adaptation to living with a KS diagnosis.

Enrollment: 302 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 14 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  1. Must have Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) by self-report.
  2. Must be 14 years or older.