Exploring the psychosocial impact of receiving and coping with a chronic illness diagnosis amongst young adults

Abstract

The psychosocial impact of chronic illnesses (CIs) is well-documented; however, existing literature predominantly centers on older adults, often overlooking young adults navigating a critical period of identity formation and developmental milestones. Receiving a chronic illness diagnosis during this stage functions as a profound biographical disruption, reshaping anticipated life trajectories and self-identity. This study aimed to explore how young adults interpret and construct meaning following a chronic illness diagnosis, with particular attention to social determinants of health, social support, and mental health consequences. This phenomenological study employed reflexive thematic analysis to examine in-depth interview data from 12 university students (aged 18–25) living with diverse chronic medical, mental, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Guided by Michael Bury's framework of biographical disruption and informed by a Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) lens, the analysis moved beyond descriptive accounts to interpret how participants navigated diagnosis, systemic barriers, and relational contexts during early adulthood. Findings indicate that the impact of a chronic illness diagnosis is not merely a clinical outcome but a complex BPSS struggle. Participants described how the experience of pain in itself, uncertainty about the future, and structural barriers disrupted projected identities and life plans. Variations in access to care, health literacy, and social support significantly shaped emotional responses, coping trajectories, and meaning-making processes. Across diagnoses, a universal demand for integrated and holistic mental health support following diagnosis emerged. Young adulthood represents a distinct and developmentally sensitive context in which chronic illness diagnosis can destabilize identity while simultaneously creating opportunities for post-traumatic growth. Current care models often fail to provide the identity-sustaining support required during this life stage. These findings underscore the need for healthcare systems and public health strategies that integrate mental health care, address structural inequities, and adopt personalized approaches to chronic illness management for young adults.