Ett undervisningsmaterial i Livskompetens : Prövat på stödgrupper för tonåringar med kronisk sjudom

Sammanfattning: Chronic illness is associated with conditions that may result in psychological ill-health in the adolescence. Consequently there is a need for development of preventive psychosocial support interventions for this target group. The objective was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effect of supportive intervention group program for teenagers suffering from chronic illness - aiming at increasing quality of life and supporting mental and physical health. Method: Six different intervention groups were conducted between 2007 and 2011, age 13–17. The participants diagnoses were Diabetic, Epilepsy, Lung/allergy and Turners syndrome. Eight sessions, once a week, two hours each time. Parents participated on the first and last occasion in all groups. Psychodrama exercises complemented group sessions. All groups had a part of the same program as starting point, with the two main points; psychosocial education and salutogenetic approach with adherence to Aaron Antonovskys theory on “Sense of Coherence” (SOC). Results from the evaluation with the questionnaires SOC-13 and The Ladder of Life, indicate increased mental well-being and sense of meaningfulness for all groups directly after the intervention. The qualitative evaluation show, that to meet others in the same situation created hope and the program contributed to notable therapeutic effects.