Self-reported health, self-management, and the impact of living with inflammatory bowel disease during adolescence

Abstract

Perceptions of living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during adolescence were explored in a cross-sectional study with a multimethod design. The adolescents as a group described general well-being and ability to handle the disease, which was related to their self-reported self-esteem. However, a subgroup of adolescents with a severe disease course reported a more negative view of the impact of IBD in their daily lives. Encouraging adolescents to communicate in different ways may help professionals to identify vulnerable subgroups with impaired health and to provide more appropriate support and treatment for those most in need.