Developmental effects on the adolescent of a temporary ileostomy

Adolescence is an exciting time of transition, as the child breaks away from a dependent role and establishes an independent adult identity. Adolescents vacillate between dependence and independence as they meet the daily challenges of growing up. The adolescent with a chronic illness, however, may find dependence thrust upon him or her by physical condition and health care needs. This article describes how a temporary ileostomy can interfere with the adolescent's ability to master developmental tasks. Initial findings from semi-structured interviews of four teenage boys provide evidence of the effects of a temporary ileostomy on an adolescent's psychosocial development.