Risk and protective factors for a salutogenic sense of health in adolescents with Moyamoya disease

Purpose: To identify the risk and protective factors affecting a salutogenic sense of health in adolescents with Moyamoya disease based on Antonovsky's salutogenesis theory. Methods: This study used a qualitative descriptive design. We interviewed adolescents diagnosed with Moyamoya disease and their parents and experts with experience in treating them from 4 July 2019 to 10 October 2019. Data analysis was performed according to the process of deductive content analysis based on Antonovsky's salutogenesis theory. Results: This study identified risk and protective factors affecting a salutogenic sense of health in adolescents with Moyamoya disease. Risk factors were closely related to problems with friends, parent relationships and academic work. Protective factors were identified as emotional support through interpersonal relationships, positive attitudes to the disease situation, ability to understand and predict patterns of symptoms, increasing strength to resolve the state of tension and developing available resources. Conclusion: The factors affecting a salutogenic sense of health in adolescents were identified reflecting on the characteristics of the developmental stage of adolescents and the symptoms and situations that are unique to adolescents. It is important for adolescents with Moyamoya disease to recognize available resources and use them appropriately to successfully manage the state of tension caused by stress.