Acceptance, well-being and goals in adolescents with chronic illness: a daily process analysis

Abstract

Objective: The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between acceptance and well-being in adolescents with chronic illness from a daily process perspective. Furthermore, we explored the role of daily experienced interference and facilitation of life goals by treatment goals as mediating mechanisms.

Methods: Thirty-eight adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) or diabetes completed questionnaires assessing acceptance, negative life events and goal-related self-efficacy. Furthermore, an online diary assessing daily mood, daily experienced interference and facilitation of life goals by treatment goals was completed during three consecutive weeks.

Results: Acceptance of illness was positively related to daily well-being, but unrelated to daily goal interference and facilitation. Furthermore, daily goal interference and facilitation were unrelated to same-day and next-day well-being.

Conclusion: This study suggests that acceptance of illness plays an important role in the daily mood of adolescents with CF and diabetes. This relationship, however, was not mediated by daily experienced interference and facilitation of life goals by treatment goals. Further research is needed to determine whether interventions promoting acceptance are beneficial for adolescents with CF and diabetes.

Keywords:

• acceptance
• well-being
• chronic illness
• goal interference
• goal facilitation

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank all adolescents and their parents for their cooperation in this study, Emma Massey for her help with the diary development, Sien Lagae, Liese Aerts, Lieve DeSmet and Astrid Dendauw for their help with data collection and Thomas Onraedt for his help with LimeSurvey 1.85. Finally, we express our gratitude to Trudy Havermans, Marleen Theunis, Heidi Vanden Bossche and Jolien Laridaen, as co-investigators, for their help in the recruitment of adolescents.