The Psychosocial Adjustment of Adolescents With A Chronic Health Condition (A Study of Epileptic and Diabetic Adolescents)

No Thumbnail Available

Date

2009-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

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.

Description

Keywords

Psychosocial Adjustment of Adolescents, With A Chronic Health Condition

Citation