The relatıonshıp between the ıllness perceptıon of the adolescents wıth chronıc ıllness, and the level of anxıety and depressıon

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the illness perception of the adolescents with chronic illnesses, and the level of anxiety and depression.The adolescents with chronic illness (i.e. haematology, kidney, heart, etc.), who are between 10-19 years of age and staying in Ege University Children?s Hospital constituted the sample of the study. In order to collect the data of the study, Illness Perception Scale (IPQ), Depression Scale for Children (DSC) and Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS) were used. Pearson correlation test was applied so as to examine the relationship between the illness perception, and depression and anxiety.According to the results of this study, the more the adolescent patients? understanding the illness increased, the more their beliefs that they can control the illness and treatment increased, and negative perception about the illness decreased. The depression and anxiety levels of the adolescents having negative illness perception were found to be higher. A relationship (p>0,05) which is statistically positively oriented and is not significant was determined between the beliefs regarding the illness period, and anxiety and depression.The nurses on the basis of the results of the study, adolescents with chronic disease patients to pass in front of potential psychosocial problems, perception of disease, early reviews are proposed.Key Words:Chronic illness, adolescence, illness perception, nursing, depression, anxiety