Young people with arthritis claim to be independent but rely heavily on their mums

Young people with inflammatory arthritis may claim to be independent but a new study shows that in reality they rely heavily on their mothers for support.
Tough decisions have to be made by young people with arthritis about whether to take powerful drugs that they may have to remain on for the rest of their lives. And while they claim to make these decisions themselves, they don’t, the experts report in Rheumatology.
It is their mothers that play a “particularly prominent role, providing cognitive practical and emotional support” and have a considerable impact on the treatment decisions of their sons and daughters.
The research group found that young people claim to make their own decisions about treatment, but actually it is usually their mothers who make appointments, take them to hospital, order medication and prepare and administer injections. Mothers ask questions about drugs, do research, and discuss the pros and cons of treatment with their son or daughter.
And this continues well into early adulthood, particularly – but not exclusively – when their son or daughter was diagnosed as a child.
“Mothers offer emotional support to confront an important decision at a difficult time, essentially ‘being there’ for young people, and providing reassurance, comfort and encouragement,” explains lead researcher Ruth Hart. “Health professionals need to take into account those important relationships if they are to help young people with arthritis become independent at a pace appropriate to their individual needs.”

Subscribe to Arthritis Digest, the UK’s fastest growing arthritis magazine for all the latest arthritis news, reviews and celebrity interviews. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products. Hard copy and digital versions both available. Click here for more information.