Psychological Adjustment Among Children With Chronic Medical Conditions: A Descriptive Study From South India

Objectives Long-term physical, emotional, and social pressures are experienced by children with chronic medical illnesses, which may have a substantial impact on their psychological adjustment. For comprehensive paediatric treatment, it is crucial to comprehend adjustment patterns and related issues. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of psychological adjustment among adolescents with chronic medical conditions and to determine the association between psychological adjustment and selected demographic variables. Material and Methods The psychological adjustment of children with chronic medical illnesses was evaluated using a descriptive design. Data was collected by using non-probability purposive sampling techniques. A total of 61 children who belong to the age group of 8-15years with a chronic condition admitted to Yenepoya Medical College Hospital were selected. A demographic proforma and a self-perception profile were used to collect the data. The information was gathered in July and November of 2021. Children’s psychological adaptation to long-term medical issues was evaluated. The Chi-square test was used to examine the association between children’s psychological adjustment to long-term medical issues and demographic proforma. The acquired data were evaluated using descriptive and inferential statistics using IBM SPSS software version 23.0. Results Majority of children (78.7%) demonstrated moderate psychological adjustment, while 21.3% were well adjusted. Significant association was observed between psychological adjustment and the parent accompanying the child ( p = 0.026) and the type of family ( p = 0.037). Other demographic variables did not show a statistically significant association ( p >0.05). Conclusion The majority of kids with long-term illnesses show only moderate psychological adjustment. Psychological well-being is greatly influenced by family-related factors, which highlights the need for family-centred psychosocial therapies in paediatric settings.