Psychosocial needs of adolescents and young adults with eczema : a secondary analysis of qualitative data to inform a behaviour change intervention

Ghio, D; Greenwell, K; Muller, I; Roberts, A; McNiven, A; Santer, M

Abstract

Objectives:
This study aimed to explore adolescents and young adults’ experiences of symptoms related to their eczema in order to determine their psychosocial needs.

Design:
A secondary qualitative analysis of two data sources collected through semi‐structured interviews for two different projects, SKINS project and Eczema Care Online project.

Methods:
In total, there were 28 transcripts with adolescents and young adults with eczema having a mean age of 19.5 years available to analyse. Interview data were collected from face‐to‐face interviews that were recorded and transcribed. Inductive thematic analysis explored data about symptoms and organized according to psychosocial needs.

Results:
Adolescents and young adults with eczema experience both visible symptoms (such as flaky, dry, and inflamed skin) and invisible symptoms (such as itch, pain, exhaustion, and mental distress) that elicit different psychosocial needs. These psychosocial needs are to (i) be understood; (ii) be perceived as normal; and (iii) receive emotional support. Interviewees described a struggle between wanting their peers and family to understand but take their eczema seriously whilst not wanting to stand out and instead to be perceived as ‘normal’, which they would define as being perceived as other adolescents. This has implications on behaviours, such as seeking support, avoiding going out, hiding their skin, as well as emotional implications, such as social isolation and feeling anxious and low.

Conclusions:
Having a better understanding of young people’s experiences and psychosocial needs will provide a framework on how best to support adolescents and young adults when managing symptoms related to eczema.

Citation

Ghio, D., Greenwell, K., Muller, I., Roberts, A., McNiven, A., & Santer, M. (2021). Psychosocial needs of adolescents and young adults with eczema : a secondary analysis of qualitative data to inform a behaviour change intervention. British Journal of Health Psychology, 26(1), 214-231. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12467

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Aug 26, 2020
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Aug 26, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 26, 2020
• Journal: British Journal of Health Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1359-107X
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-8287
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 214-231
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12467
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12467
• Related Public URLs: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)2044-8287
• Additional Information: Projects : Eczema Care Online