title: Coping with illness and coping with handicap during the vocational rehabilitation of physically handicapped adolescents and young adults.
abstract: Coping with illness and coping with handicap during the vocational rehabilitation of physically handicapped adolescents and young adults are given great consideration in rehabilitation centres. The mutual dependence of defence styles and ways of coping with serious illnesses are demonstrated in case vignettes 1 and 2. Defence processes can block coping with illness. In adolescents who are physically handicapped since birth, other body and self-representations are developed according to the form of handicap. After an accident or illness in later childhood or adolescence, new body and self-representations have to be built up in a way that corresponds to the changed physical circumstances (case vignette 3). This is often a lengthy and painful process of mourning. The extent to which the adolescent patient will be granted independence and autonomy from the family will influence the course of the illness itself. The dangers and prospects of lengthy rehabilitation processes are discussed. The necessary adjustments that physically handicapped adolescents have to make when they are admitted into a residential facility for the physically handicapped are described.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Clinic, Neckargemünd, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voll
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poustka
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support