Been There, Done That: The Experience of Acting as a Young Adult Mentor to Adolescents Living With Chronic Illness.
To explore the perceived benefits and challenges of acting as a young adult peer mentor to adolescents with chronic illness.



A qualitative descriptive study, using interviews and a focus group, explored the perceptions of young adult peer mentors following participation in the iPeer2Peer program, a Skype-based peer-mentorship program for adolescents with chronic illness. Interviews and focus group data were transcribed and analyzed using inductive content analysis.



Ten peer mentors (20.00 ± 1.49 years old, range 17-22 years; diagnosed with chronic pain [n = 4] or juvenile idiopathic arthritis [n = 6]) who mentored four mentees (±2.55 mentees, range = 1-10 mentees) participated. Four main categories were identified: social connection, personal growth, mentor role in mentee growth, and logistics of mentorship.



Acting as a peer mentor online is a feasible and rewarding experience that supports the mentor's own illness self-management, social connection, and personal growth.
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.|University of Toronto.
Sara
S
Ahola Kohut
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.|University of Toronto.
Jennifer
J
Stinson
University of Ottawa.
Paula
P
Forgeron
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Stephanie
S
Luca
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Lauren
L
Harris
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D000071252:Mentoring; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
adolescents; chronic illness; peers; social support