| Summary: | The life expectancy of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients continues to increase, and it is therefore important to understand more about the psychosocial aspects of CF in adulthood. The present study aims to compare a group of 30 adult CF patients with a healthy control group on a multidimensional quality of life measure (WHOQOL) and other measures assessing self-esteem, anxiety, depression, social support and body image. A clinical measure of severity was also included in the CF group as were objective measures of physical functioning. The experimental group were out-patients attending the CF Centre, Edinburgh. Their mean age was 29 (range = 18.49 years). Healthy controls were a community sample matched for age, sex and deprivation category. Adjustment to illness was also assessed in the CF group and additional qualitative data relating to CF-specific quality of life was obtained during semi-structured interviews with 19 of the CF subjects. Statistical analysis was conducted to test the prediction that there would be no significant between groups differences on psychological measures (anxiety, depression and self-esteem). Differences were predicted in certain aspects of Quality of Life such as mobility and ability to work. Social support networks and body image concerns were also predicted to vary between the groups. A thematic analysis of interview data was also conducted to explore specific issues of adjustment and Quality of Life within the CF group.
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