Illness perceptions of adolescents wits inflammatory bowel disease and the association with distress and well-being

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children and adolescents. It requires a lifelong medical treatment, as well as the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. However, little is known about illness perceptions of adolescents suffering from IBD and how they relate to well-being measures. Aims were 1) to describe illness perceptions, distress and well-being of adolescents with IBD; and 2) to associate illness perceptions with distress and well-being of adolescents with IBD. Thirty-six adolescents aged 12 to 18, diagnosed with IBD, answered the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and distress and well-being items from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children questionnaire. Overall the disease is perceived as benign. The majority of adolescents show some concerns about the disease but they feel a reasonable self-control over their illness and strongly believe in the benefits of treatment. Globally, adolescents showed positive perceptions of their health status and of their life. However, tiredness, exhaustion and nervousness were referred as frequent symptoms. Significant correlations showed that higher threatening perception of illness was associated with an increased frequency of physical symptoms, of tiredness and exhaustion, of depression and nervousness and with less satisfaction with life (rs ranging from .331 to .587). All descriptive and correlational results were significantly stronger in adolescents with active disease compared to those in remission. Negative illness perceptions will likely trigger distress and malaise in adolescents with IBD. From the evaluation/comprehension of illness perceptions, it is possible to plan interventions to change negative perceptions and illness outcomes.