Growing Up with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: School and Social Life in the Time of Social Media

Abstract BackgroundJuvenile idiopathic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition interfering with daily activities, social integration and scholar attendance in children because of pain and joint inflammation during disease flares. Online resources might help children with JIA improve their social interactions and enhance their knowledge about their disease and the available therapeutic strategies. This study aims to reveal the social issues encountered by teenagers prone to JIA and determine their perception about the impact of social media on their daily life.Methods: We conducted phone interviews with children suffering from JIA, aged between 8-16 years old. Results:Individual interviews were held with 22 adolescents diagnosed with JIA. Fifty-two percent felt like outcasts and rejected by their peers because of their illness. Most of the participants expressed a need for their friends to be informed about their JIA diagnosis. Twenty-two-point seven percent stated playing sports for more than 5 hours a week. 31.8% found their physical performance not affected by their disease. Ninety-seven of the participants confirmed that they’re using social media on average 3 hours a day. YouTube and Facebook were ranked respectively as the first and the second preferred platforms. Seventeen percent of children viewed these platforms as positive and helpful in dealing with JIA, especially by taking their mind off of the pain, dealing with the stress resulting from the lack of mobility, and facilitating interactions with others.Conclusion: Social integration in children with JIA is still challenging. Social media is a helpful tool to relieve pain and improve children’s social interactions.