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Teens with sickle cell disease who use problem-focused coping strategies and have strong social support are significantly more ready to transition from pediatric to adult care, a new study finds. Researchers say clinicians should routinely screen for coping skills and social support at adolescent visits. Healthcare teams and institutions share the responsibility of building structured programs to close this gap.
Transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare is a major hurdle for adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) — and a new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that the right coping tools can make a real difference. Researchers analyzed data from 373 young adults (mean age 18.9 years; 91.3% Black) and found that those who used problem-focused coping strategies and had stronger social support scored significantly higher on transition readiness assessments.
The findings also showed that being older, being a woman, and having more emotional or informational social support were all independently associated with better readiness. Researchers emphasize that clinicians should screen for coping mechanisms and social support at every adolescent visit — and that healthcare systems, not just patients, need to be ready to receive these young adults.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Over 95% of children with SCD now survive into adulthood, but poor transitions lead to worse disease outcomes, lower medication adherence, and more complications. With more than 90% of patients being Black and approximately 60% on Medicaid, addressing these gaps is both a clinical and equity imperative.
