The master thesis deals with young adults with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Nowadays, chronic diseases are on the rise, and chronic inflammatory bowel disease is no exception. Unlike other chronic diseases (circulatory diseases, skeletal diseases), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease most commonly occurs in adolescents and young adults. The transition of young people to adulthood is difficult in itself, and more and more young people today face chronic diseases. Young people during the transition to adulthood, face difficult development challenges, which due to their disease can be difficult to overcome. The theoretical part deals with the period of emerging adulthood and various other areas of everyday life (employment, education, health, family and partner relationship). We also review how health and non-governmental organizations—the Društvo KVČB (in English: Association for Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease)—provide support to sick young people. The empirical part deals with the main research question of this master's thesis, which is to find out how young people experience and face their chronic inflammatory bowel disease and where do they find support in dealing with this disease. My research concludes that young people have different results in dealing with this disease. Some young patients find it very difficult achieving their educational, employment and partnership goals, while others do not recognize having any problems. This depends on the progression and the activity of the disease. What all have in common is that the disease affects their everyday lives. Young people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease express fears that are conditioned by their progression of the disease. Some participants in the survey also expressed fears about their future. The disease affects their intimate relationships and family planning. The results also show changes in self-esteem and difficulties in establishing social contacts with their peers. I learned that in addition to the challenges that all young people face—e. g. employment and education—, sick young people also have to deal with challenges that arise from the disease, which present an additional burden to them. Many young people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease receive most of their support from family and non-governmental organizations, such as the association Društvo KVČB.
Lastly, I conclude with a review of our research questions. I provide ideas
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