Teens With Chronic Pain May Find Support on YouTube

Updated May 28, 2019

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.”