According to current studies, adolescents who live with a chronic condition are at an increased risk for developing worse health outcomes than their healthy counterparts while engaging in maladaptive health behaviors. For example, adolescents with asthma and cystic fibrosis who are exposed to tobacco are at increased risk of pulmonary deterioration, as compared to healthy adolescents. 

Impact of Maladaptive Health Behaviors on Adole

A type of behavior that prevents a person from making adjustments that are in their best interest. Factors that may cause maladaptive health behaviors include chronic illness, trauma, developmental disorders, and anxiety. 

University of Illinois at Chicago

Adolescents who live with a chronic illness are at an increased risk for developing maladaptive health behaviors. Maladaptive health behaviors can ultimately greater the risk for developing adverse effects such as increased morbidity and mortality, increased psychological distress, depression, self-harm, suicide, and body image issues. 

Psychological/behavioral consequences of pediatric chronic illness

Pietrangelo, A. (2020, March 18). Maladaptive behavior: Causes, connection to anxiety, and treatment. Healthline. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/maladaptive-behavior 

Identifying and Treating Maladaptive Behavior

Maladaptive Health Behaviors 

Adolescents living with a chronic illness often times have increased distress during time of initial diagnosis, continuous stress from treatment and social disruption, social stigma and belittlement, and permanent changes of their future. Despite many adolescents adjusting well to their chronic conditions, psychological comorbidity in U.S. samples is approximately 20% twice that of healthy adolescents. 

Increased psychological distress in adolescents living with a chronic illness 

Self-management is when a person applies behavior change strategies in order to achieve long-term goals. Forms of self-management within pediatric chronic illness includes:

- Medication management
- Exercise management
- Communication with family, peers, and health professionals
- Knowledge-based education 

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