Growing into disability benefits? Psychosocial course of life of young adults with a chronic somatic disease or disability

Abstract

Young adult beneficiaries with somatic limitations since childhood are at risk of a delayed course of life. Healthcare providers should pay systematic attention to the psychosocial developmental trajectory of their patients in order to optimize their development to adulthood and, consequently, create conditions for an optimal labour market position.

Psychological well-being and chronic condition in Portuguese adolescents

“…Therefore, adolescents living with a CC can be at higher risk for an healthy emotional and behavioural psychological development (Bernstein, Soren, Stockwell, Rosenthal, & Gallagher, 2011;Verhoof, Maurice-Stam, Heymans, & Grootenhuis, 2012) and can experience more adjustment difficulties (Geist, 2003;Oeseburg, Jansen, Groothoff, Dijkstra, & Reijneveld, 2010), as well as internalising symptoms, such as depression (Miyazaki, Amaral, & Grecca, 2006;Vanhalst et al, 2013), anxiety and social withdrawal, and externalising others related to behaviours (Lavigne & Faier-Routman, 1992).…”

Exploring effectiveness and effective components of self-management interventions for young people with chronic physical conditions: A systematic review

“…This transition, which implies becoming an independent adult fulfilling different roles in society, requires complicated life changes [3,4]. For these young people the transition may be more complicated, however, as they often lag behind in social and emotional development compared to healthy peers [5,6].…”

Human Development and Health

“…Numerous studies document strong and robust relationships between childhood chronic physical illness and developmental problems, especially poor cognitive/academic performance, problems developing relationships with peers, and low self-esteem (Forrest et al, 2011;Martinez et al, 2011;Pinquart, 2013;Pinquart and Shen, 2011). These problems tend to cumulate over time, leading to increasing developmental problems in adolescence (Verhoof et al, 2012). These findings apply to many specific illnesses, including cancer, cystic fibrosis, Type 1 diabetes, and epilepsy.…”

“…Serious illnesses and/or disabilities can constrain an individual's ability to master developmental tasks and/or delay his or her achievement (e.g., Newacheck and Taylor, 1992;Verhoof et al, 2012). Moreover, failure to master early developmental tasks can disrupt the achievement of later ones, resulting in a snowballing pattern of developmental disadvantage.…”

“…Moreover, failure to master early developmental tasks can disrupt the achievement of later ones, resulting in a snowballing pattern of developmental disadvantage. Although early research focused primarily on disruptions to highly specific developmental tasks (e.g., cognitive development, motor skills), recent research casts a wider net, including, for example, studies of how severe childhood illness can delay or disrupt the development of social skills, social relationships with family members and peers, self-esteem, and academic achievement (e.g., Verhoof et al, 2012).…”