Acceptance and Well-Being in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the role of acceptance in well-being in adolescents and young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). METHOD: A total of 40 adolescents and young adults with CF (ages 14-22 years) completed questionnaires assessing acceptance, anxiety and depressive symptoms, physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, and social functioning. After 6 months, 28 of them completed the questionnaires on anxiety and depressive symptoms, physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, and social functioning a second time. RESULTS: More acceptance (Time 1) was related to less depressive symptoms (Time 1 and 2), and to better role, emotional, and social functioning (Time 1). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that accepting the limitations imposed by chronic disease and readjusting life goals may have a positive effect upon well-being in adolescents and young adults with CF. Further research is needed to clarify whether acceptance-based interventions are useful in promoting well-being in adolescents and young adults with CF.