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Assessing and Enhancing Psychosocial Functioning

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Care of Adults with Chronic Childhood Conditions

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Abstract

Positive social experiences are essential to patient health and wellbeing. The primary care provider’s office is an important social environment for an adolescent with special healthcare needs as physicians serve as both social agents as well as medical providers for these young people. Attaining the age of majority accelerates the transition to adult healthcare, and occurs at a time when social interactions are of paramount importance and among these patients’ most salient preoccupations. In light of evidence suggesting that young people with chronic conditions are at-risk for problems in social competence and performance related to their illness, the adult Primary Care Provider (PCP) has a unique opportunity to detect and address problems in social functioning. Through strategic communication and appropriate use of external resources, the PCP can promote healthy social engagement and positive social behaviors. The following chapter will (1) review the most relevant aspects of social development during the young adult period; (2) discuss ways to identify barriers to optimal social functioning; and (3) provide strategies for the PCP to facilitate this aspect of patient care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Internal Medicine, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, 865 Northern Blvd, Suite 102, Great Neck, NY, 11021, USA

    Daniel J. Coletti

  2. Clinical Psychology Health Emphasis Program, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Rousso Building, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA

    Naomi S. Kane

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Correspondence to Daniel J. Coletti .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, LAKE SUCCESS, New York, USA

    Mariecel Pilapil

  2. Mount Sinai School of Medicine , NEW YORK, New York, USA

    David E. DeLaet

  3. University of California Los Angeles , SANTA MONICA, California, USA

    Alice A. Kuo

  4. Baylor Clinic , HOUSTON, Texas, USA

    Cynthia Peacock

  5. Brigham and Women's Hospital , BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA

    Niraj Sharma

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Coletti, D.J., Kane, N.S. (2016). Assessing and Enhancing Psychosocial Functioning. In: Pilapil, M., DeLaet, D., Kuo, A., Peacock, C., Sharma, N. (eds) Care of Adults with Chronic Childhood Conditions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43827-6_25

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