Navigating Adolescence with Chronic Illness: A Review Study of Emotion Regulation and Psychological Adjustment

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by rapid biological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes. The presence of chronic physical illnesses such as Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) adds substantial emotional and self-management challenges, making emotion regulation a key determinant of psychological adjustment and long-term health outcomes. This review synthesizes current evidence on the role of emotion regulation in psychological adjustment among adolescents with chronic physical illnesses, highlighting underlying theoretical frameworks, disease-specific manifestations, interpersonal influences, and evidence-based interventions. A narrative review of contemporary literature was undertaken, integrating empirical studies and theoretical models examining emotion regulation, coping, illness identity, family and peer influences, and psychological interventions in adolescents with chronic health conditions. The literature consistently demonstrates that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, including catastrophizing, rumination, experiential avoidance, and self-blame, are associated with increased anxiety, depression, poorer treatment adherence, impaired executive functioning, and reduced health-related quality of life. Conversely, adaptive strategies such as cognitive reappraisal, acceptance, and secondary control coping promote resilience, effective disease self-management, and positive psychological adjustment. Illness identity, family co-regulation, peer support, and disease-specific psychological interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, further influence emotional adaptation and long-term well-being. Emotion regulation represents a central biopsychosocial mechanism linking chronic illness with psychological and functional outcomes during adolescence. Integrating emotion regulation assessment and evidence-based psychological interventions into routine pediatric chronic illness care may improve emotional well-being, treatment adherence, and quality of life. Future research should employ longitudinal and ecologically valid methodologies to better understand developmental trajectories and optimize intervention strategies.