Health & Child

In the Children & Chronic diseases axis, we investigate the inter- and intra-personal factors involved in the mental and physical health of children with chronic diseases. Beyond the physiological impact that medical conditions exert on health, dealing with a chronic disease can highly compromise individuals' cognitive, emotional and behavioral typical development. However, while the psychological and physical challenges imposed by chronic conditions have been well examined in (young) adults, little is known about whether and how such constraints operate in the context of childhood and early adolescence. 

Previous studies suggest that emotional competences play a crucial role in both the mental and the physical health of children with chronic conditions, with better emotional competences being associated with the expression of more health behaviors. Our aim is therefore to deepen our knowledge of this relationship in order to propose effective, adapted emotional interventions that benefit the monitoring of the disease in children and, consequently, their psychological and physical health.

Researchers involved in this project