Peer interaction in adolescents with a chronic illness

This study examined behavioural, cognitive and affective aspects of peer in teraction of adolescents with a chronic illness. The aim of the study was t wofold: (1) describe peer interaction of adolescents with a chronic illness in comparison with norms of healthy adolescents; (2) examine the relations hip of peer interaction with the illness characteristics functional limitat ions and pain. Peer interaction of 98 adolescents with a chronic illness wa s assessed with measures of social activities (CBCL), social self-esteem (S PPA), self-reported social skills (MESSY, SIG-frequency) and social anxiety (SIG-anxiety). Results showed that diagnosis is related to social activiti es, but not to other aspects of peer interaction. Further, chronically ill girls had a lower level of social activities compared with healthy norms. I n addition, girls with cystic fibrosis displayed more assertive behaviour t han healthy girls, while chronically ill boys displayed less inadequate soc ial skills than healthy boys. With regard to illness characteristics, funct ional limitations were not associated with peer interaction. However, pain was associated with restricted social activities in boys. It was concluded that in general, chronically ill adolescents were well adjusted socially an d that functional limitations and pain do not seem to be risk factors for s ocial adjustment problems. This healthy functioning might be a result of th e presence of protective factors, such as the use of adequate coping strate gies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.