De rol van aanvaarding bij jongeren met mucoviscidose

There is a large variation in psychological functioning in adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Explaining this heterogeneity is a major challenge in research. This study explored the role of acceptance in accounting for psychological functioning. We expected that adolescents who reported more acceptance of their illness would be less anxious, depressed and disabled. Thirty-six adolescents completed a battery of questionnaires including the Illness Cognition Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Inventory and Functional Disability Inventory. Regression analyses showed that acceptance had a significant and unique contribution in explaining adolescents' anxiety, depression and disability, beyond the contribution of demographic variables and disease severity. Disease severity also had a unique contribution in explaining disability. The results of this study provide evidence for the important role of acceptance in psychological functioning in adolescents with cystic fibrosis. This is in line with studies in other chronic conditions such as chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome. Results are discussed in the context of acceptance-based therapies that might prove useful in promoting well-being in adolescents with cystic fibrosis