Compliance with chronic illness regimens: school-aged children and adolescents.

More chronically ill school-aged children and adolescents are surviving into adulthood due to recent medical advances and modern technology. However, noncompliance rates are higher among adolescents than adults. Noncompliance is costly, can lead to complications, and may be life-threatening. Several models of compliance are discussed. Variables described in recent research as related to noncompliance (personal, family, and illness factors) are discussed. Those factors that emerged as most important in adolescent compliance were self-esteem, social functioning, and perceived autonomy. It appears that psychological needs may compete and conflict with the need for adherence to illness regimens in adolescence.