Been There, Done That: The Experience of Acting as a Young Adult Mentor to Adolescents Living With Chronic Illness

Abstract

Objective: To explore the perceived benefits and challenges of acting as a young adult peer mentor to adolescents with chronic illness.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.

Keywords: adolescents; chronic illness; peers; social support.