Resilience Promotion Using Peer Support

in the Hospital Setting

Stephanie Clifford, MSN, ARNP, CPNP-PC

November 22, 2010

Adolescents

Desire to be part of a peer group

Desire to be normal

Desire to fit in

Desire acceptance of their condition

Illness During Adolescence

• Significant impact on psychosocial and social development

• Greater demand for closer social relations

• Interferes with development and maintenance of peer relationships

Many Feel Trapped

Resilience Theory

• Focuses on strengths rather than deficits• Resilience is a process:

– Overcoming the negative effects of risk exposure

– Coping successfully with traumatic experiences

– Avoiding negative trajectories associated with risk

• Requires the presence of promotive factors

The Solution

Use peer relationships as promotive

factors to encourage resilience during a

very difficult time

WHY?

• Peers provide:– Empathy– Support– Promote/model positive behavior– Increased psychological well-being– Increased feelings of self worth & esteem

-Family members cannot always provide this-

We need to help…

Implementation

Peer support program within the hospital• Meetings with peers in a group setting• Meetings with peers on an individual

basis• Consists of volunteers and past and

present patients

Pros

• Learn new coping techniques• Learn how to influence social

environments• Enlarge perspectives of “normal”• Understand causes of personal stressors• Confirm positive changes in attitudes

Pros

• Reduce sense of isolation• Enhance social identity• Extend help to others

Cons

• Witness to a peer’s deterioration in health

• Discovering new and unpleasant information about one’s illness

• Negative self appraisals while another peer is improving

• Feelings of inadequacy

Cons

• Decreased self esteem• Failure to develop other interests• Feelings of separation from “normal”

society

Goal

• Provide sick, hospitalized adolescents with peer support to overcome a major life stressor/transition

References

Fergus, S., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2005). Adolescent resilience: A framework for understanding healthy development in the face of risk. Annual Review of Public Health, 26, (1), 399-419. doi: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144357.

Olsson, C. A., Boyce, M. F., Toumbourou, J. W., & Sawyer, S. M. (2005). The role of peer support in facilitating psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness. Clinical Child Psychoilogy and Psychiatry, 10, (78).

Hagan, J. F., Shaw, J. S., Duncan, P. M., eds. (2008). Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 3rd ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics

Buote, V. M., Pancer, S. M., Pratt, M. W., Adams, G., Birnie-Lefcovitch, S., Polivy, J., & Wintre, M. G., (2007). The importance of friends: Friendship and adjustmnet among first year university students. Jounral of Adolescent Research, 22, (6).