Sustaining, Forming, and Letting Go of Friendships for Young People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Qualitative Interview-Based Study

Rouncefield-Swales, Alison, Carter, Bernie, Bray, Lucy, Blake, Lucy, Allen, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6675-249X, Probert, Chris, Crook, Kay and Qualter, Pamela (2020) 'Sustaining, Forming, and Letting Go of Friendships for Young People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Qualitative Interview-Based Study'. International Journal of Chronic Diseases, Vol 2020, Issue 7254972, pp. 1-10.

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Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an incurable, chronic, gastrointestinal condition that can constrain young people’s social relationships. Few studies have specifically explored friendships of people with IBD. This qualitative, participatory study used interviews, photographs, and friendship maps to explore friendships and friendship networks of young people with IBD. A Young Person’s Advisory Group was actively engaged throughout the study. Thirty-one young people participated (n=16 male, n=15 female; n=24 Crohn’s, n=7 colitis; mean age at study was 18.7 years; range 14-25 years). Findings present a meta-theme ‘The importance and meaning of friendships’ and three interwoven sub-themes of ‘Sustaining friendships’, ‘Forming new friendships’, and ‘Letting go of friendships’. Friendship was important to the young people with IBD, providing support, but associated with challenges such as disclosure. Such challenges could be mitigated by clearer conversations with clinicians about friendships and more extensive conversations about friendships and long-term conditions in education settings.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WI Digestive System > WI 140 Diseases (General) WS Pediatrics > Diseases of Children and Adolescents > By System > WS 310 Digestive system WS Pediatrics > By Age Groups > WS 460 Adolescence (General)
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7254972
Depositing User:	Marie Hatton
Date Deposited:	19 Nov 2020 11:55
Last Modified:	19 Nov 2020 13:49
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/16137

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