A new study suggests that teens with painful chronic illnesses may find YouTube can provide a support network. Young people with chronic pain “feel they cannot engage in the activities they previously enjoyed, or do not want to hold others back knowing they will need to do things more slowly or carefully,” said
Alison M. Vargovich, PhD, clinical assistant professor of
medicine in the
Division of Behavioral Medicine, who was not associated with the study. “As they turn down requests to participate in activities and outings, they become more isolated.”