Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-r5zm4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-21T06:31:57.019Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Growing up with congenital heart disease: the dilemmas of adolescents and young adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Elizabeth M. Tong*
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, UCSF Stanford Health care, San Francisco, CA, USA
Patricia S.A. Sparacino
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, UCSF Stanford Health care, San Francisco, CA, USA
DeAnne K.H. Messias
Affiliation:
Division of Graduate Nursing, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN, USA
Dru Foote
Affiliation:
The School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Catherine A. Chesla
Affiliation:
The School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Cartherine L. Gilliss
Affiliation:
The School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
*
Elizabeth M. Tong, UCSF Stanford Health Care

Abstact

Advances in diagnosis, medical management and surgical intervention have improved the longevity and quality of life for children with congenital heart disease. Despite this, research studies specifically examining the psychosocial concerns of adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease are few. To explore the subjective experiences and dilemmas of this population during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, we interviewed, using a semi-structured protocol, a convenience sample of nine adolescents and young adults. Using analytic procedures inherent in Grounded Theory methodology, seven themes were identified: the dilemma of normality; dilemmas in disclosure; dilemmas in strategies for management of illness; the challenge of social integration versus social isolation; the challenge of dependence versus independence; the challenge of uncertainty; and strategies for coping. An understanding of these experiences by health professionals can be beneficial in helping this clinical population as they grow up and face the challenges of an uncertain, yet promising, future.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Cohen, D. Surgical mangement of congenital heart disease in the 1990s. Am J Dis Child 1992; 146: 14471452.Google Scholar
2.DeMaso, DR, Beardlee, WR, Silbert, AR, Flyer, DC. Phychological functing in children with cyanotic heart defects. Dev and Behav Pediater 1990; 11: 289294.Google Scholar
3.DeMaso, DR, Campis, LK, Wypij, D, Bertram, S, Lipshitz, M, Freed, M. the impact of meternal perception and medical severity with adjustement of children with congential heart disease. J Pediatr Psychol 1991; 16: 137149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Kramer, HH, Awiszuz, D, Sterzel, Uvan Halteren, A, Classen, R. Development of personality and intelligence in children with congenital heart disease. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 1989; 30: 299308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Brandhagen, DJ, Felde, RH, Williams, DE. Long-term psychologic implications of congenitions heart disease: a 25-year followup. Mayo Clin Proc 1991; 66: 474479.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Linde, LM, Rasof, B, Dunn, OJ, Rabb, E. Attitidinal factors in congrntial heart disease. Pediatrics 1966; 38: 92101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Linde, LM, Adams, FH, Rozanky, GI. Physical and emotional aspects of congential heart disease in children (Educational). Am J Cardiol. 1971; 27: 712713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Linde, LM. Psychiatric aspects of congenital heart disease. Psychiatr Clin North Am 1982; 5: 3994O6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Garson, A Jr, Williams, RB Jr, Rechless, J. Long-term follow-up of patients with tetralogy of Fallot: physical health and psychopathology. J Pediatr 1974; 85: 429433.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Kokkonen, J, Paavialine, T. Social adaption of hyoung adults with chd. Int J Cardiol 1992; 36: 2329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Bjornstad, PG, Spurkland, I, Lindberg, HL. The impact of severe congenital heart disease on physical and psychological functioning in adolescents. Cardiol Young 1995; 5: 5662.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Spurkland, I, Bjprnstad, PG, Lindber, H, Seem, E. Mental health and psychosocial functing in adolescents born with heart diseace. A comparison between adolescents born with severe heart defect and atrial septal defect. 1993; 82: 7176.Google Scholar
13.Utens, EMWJ, Verhulst, FC, Meijboom, FJ, Duivenvoorden, HJ, Erdman, RA, Bos, E, Roelandt, JTC, Hess, J. Brhavioual and emotional problems in children and adolesecents with congenital heart diseace. Psychol Med 1993 23: 415424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Utens, EMWJ, Vethulst, FC, Erdman, RA, Meijboom, FJ, Duivenvoorden, HJ, Bos, E, Roelandt, JRTC, Hess, J. Psychological functioning of young adults after surgical correction for congenital heart disease in childhood: a follow-up study. J Psychosom Res 1994; 38: 745758.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Sparacino, PSA, Tong, EM, Messias, DKH, Foote, D, Chesla, C, Gilliss, CL. the dilemmas of parents of sdolescents and young adults with congential heart disease. Heart and Lung 1997; 26: 187195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Strauss, A, Corbin, J. Basics of Qualitative Research: Groundedures Theory Procexures ) Techniques. Sage, Newbury Park, 1990.Google Scholar
17.Muuss, R. Theories of Adolescence. McGraw-Hill, New York,1996, pp. 5155.Google Scholar
18.Kellerman, J, Zelter, L, Ellenberg, L, Dash, J, Rigler, D. Psychological effects of illness in adolescents. I. Anxiety, selfesteem, and perception of control. J Pediatr 1980;97: 126131.Google Scholar
19.Ireys, HT, Gross, SS, Werthamer-Larsson, LA, Kolodner, KB. Self-esteem of young adults with chronic health conditions: appraising the effects of perceived impact. J Dev Behav Pediatr 1994; 15: 409415.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed