Social contacts

Question

What is the impact of CF on social contacts (social functioning)?

Answer

Social functioning is a wide concept and my answer will concern all sorts of social contacts that patients may have: school, work, friends, family, hobbies, etc. All people, including patients with CF, have social skills which will determine, to a large extent, his or her social contacts. One person is more skilled than the other and most importantly, some people need more social interactions than others. Social contacts are related to a person’s age: parents will largely influence the social interactions of their young children, whilst adolescents or adults will generally choose their own social world.

The severity of CF will impact patients’ social life and thus social interactions and contacts. With increasing illness patients need more time to care for their CF and do their treatments. Hospitalizations, reduced mobility and energy will minimize opportunities to socialize. As patients become more ill or during periods of severe infections they are often forced to decline social activities. Patients have to, more than healthy people, choose which activities they will or will not do. For example, working full-time often leads to cutting down on hobbies or ‘going out’; part-time working will create time to do things, but may influence chances of building a career or may have financial consequences. A patient’s physical condition will largely influence the decision making process. In addition, the advice of the CF team, parents or friends will also play a role and most importantly, the patient’s own personal views on how to live his or her life.

For example, a young 25-year old patient with mild CF will be able to go to school full-time, ‘go out’ and lead a busy social life. However, a 25-year old patient with severe lung disease will not be able to do this anymore and will be advised not to. This patient may want to do many things, but his or her body will not ‘allow’ it. If this patient chooses to go to school full-time and party through the night, s/he will have to be aware that a price may have to be paid both in the short and long term.

Some patients will avoid social contacts, because they fear people’s reactions to their illness, because they are ashamed or due to negative experiences in the past. The negative impact of CF on a person’s social life may lead to feelings of anger, sadness, frustrations, despair etc. For some patients it may lead to social isolation. For most patients this is not the case and they lead a good social life, be it within the restrictions of their illness. CF hardly ever deteriorates suddenly and most patients will have time –if needed- to adapt to the restrictions their illness and treatment put on them. Yet, we have to be truthful and say that the process of adaptation is often quite difficult.

T. Havermans

14.10.2009