Chronic Illness Impact on Youth Mental Health
Summary
Youth living with chronic physical conditions face a markedly increased risk of mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression and behavioural challenges. The persistent demands of symptom management, frequent healthcare visits and treatment side effects can undermine self‐esteem and disrupt normal developmental tasks. Educational attainment and peer relationships often suffer as young people struggle to balance illness management with academic and social expectations. Family functioning and socioeconomic factors further modulate psychological outcomes, with stronger social support and adaptive coping strategies shown to buffer distress. The burden extends beyond individual suffering to place substantial demands on healthcare systems and to incur higher overall costs. A holistic approach that integrates mental health screening into routine paediatric care, tailors psychosocial support to developmental stage and leverages digital technologies offers promise for mitigating the adverse psychological sequelae of chronic illness in youth.
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Chronic Illness Impact on Youth Mental Health publication trend
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Technical terms
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL): A multidimensional construct reflecting physical, emotional and social well-being as perceived by the individual.
Multimorbidity: The co-occurrence of two or more chronic health conditions in the same individual, often exacerbating psychological stress.
Psychosocial interventions: Therapeutic approaches targeting psychological processes and social factors to improve mental health and coping.
eHealth and mHealth: Digital platforms and mobile applications used to deliver health information, monitoring and interventions remotely.
Integrated care: A coordinated model in which mental health professionals work alongside medical teams to address both physical and psychological needs concurrently.
References
- Mental disorder in children with physical conditions: a pilot study. BMJ Open (2018).
- Clinical and Economic Burden of Mental Disorders Among Children With Chronic Physical Conditions, United States, 2008–2013. Preventing Chronic Disease (2016).
- eHealth and mHealth Psychosocial Interventions for Youths With Chronic Illnesses: Systematic Review. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting (2020).
- Integrated care to address child and adolescent health in the 21st century: A clinical review. JCPP Advances (2021).
- Experiences of interventions aiming to improve the mental health and well‐being of children and young people with a long‐term physical condition: A systematic review and meta‐ethnography. Child Care Health and Development (2019).
- Chronic health conditions and school performance in first graders: A prospective cohort study. PLOS ONE (2018).
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