The Psychosocial Adjustment of Adolescents With A Chronic Health Condition (A Study of Epileptic and Diabetic Adolescents)
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study was primarily aimed at examining the psychological and social adjustment
of epileptic and diabetic adolescents as compared with 'healthy' group of
adolescents. Moreover, the study also aimed at further investigating into the role of
some demographic variables (age, gendel), clinical variables (illness duration, health
attackji-equency) as well as altitude towards illness for the psychological and social
adjustment of the epileptic, diabetic and 'healthy' group of adolescents who took part
in the study. Data were collected by way of questionnaires ji-om a total 0/ j 56
conveniently selected adolescents (52 epileptic, 52 diabetic, and 52 'healthy'
adolescents that were matched for age and sex) ji-om two local hOjpitals and three
government schools in Addis Ababa. The data were analyzed by making use of an
independent t-test, one way :A NO VA, Scheffe 's procedure, and mean comparisons. -
The findings of the study revealed that adolescents with epilepjy had more
psychological and social adjustment problems compared with 'healthy ' as well as
diabetic adolescents. Diabetic adolescents, on other hand, exhibited relatively similar
psychological and social adjustment outcomes as the 'healthy ' adolescents. Among
epileptic adolescents, a relatively higher seizure ji-equency and unfavorable altitude
towards illness were found to be significantly associated with pjychological and
,
social adjustment problems. However in diabetic adolescents, except Ihe female
gender Ihat was signi/icanlly associated with psychological adjuslll1 em problems,
none of the sludied demographic variables, clinical variables as well as affilude
lowards illness demonslraled association wilh the adolescents ' pjychological and
social adjuslmenl
Epileplic adolescenls seemed to endure more compromised pjychological and social
adjuslment problems. To Ihis end the study primarily recommended Ihe inlegralion 0/
psychosocial supporl services with medical services. Moreover, making accessible
appropriate epilepsy related information 10 the adolescenls was sllggesled along
many other recommendations.
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Keywords
Psychosocial Adjustment of Adolescents, With A Chronic Health Condition