Young people in transition to adulthood often struggle in their communications with doctors and medical professionals. However, individuals who deal with chronic illness early in life may have an advantage in dealings with medical professionals when they become adults. Those who dealt with illness as children report being less reliant on adults for decision making related to health and more comfortable in making independent medical decisions. Some recommendations are provided for how to increase the responsibility as teens approach adulthood to ease this transition. It is also worth noting that the study referenced was a self-report that may have had some reporting bias.
Read more: Does illness help young adults take charge of their own health?