The COACH consortium, a German research partnership focused on chronic conditions in adolescents, carried out a dedicated subproject that examined how intra‑ and inter‑personal resources and coping strategies influence psychosocial adaptation in young people with type‑1 diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The study was embedded within the broader COACH aim of developing a tiered, interdisciplinary care model for 12‑ to 21‑year‑olds and evaluating its effectiveness. The subproject’s primary scientific contribution was a qualitative exploration of resilience factors and coping mechanisms, complemented by a pilot assessment of psychometric instruments suitable for this population.

A semi‑structured interview guide was created for focus groups and individual interviews. Sixteen adolescents (six females, ten males) aged 12 to 21 participated; 12 were between 12 and 18 years and four were 18 to 21. Diagnoses were distributed evenly across the three conditions: four with type‑1 diabetes, eight with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and four with cystic fibrosis. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and independently coded by two researchers. The coding process identified key intrapersonal resources—self‑esteem, self‑efficacy, self‑control, and optimism—and inter‑personal resources such as emotional and instrumental support from family and peers. These factors emerged as central influences on how adolescents adapt to the demands of their chronic illness and maintain health‑related quality of life. The qualitative data also provided feedback on the clarity of selected questionnaire items, informing the selection of instruments for the subsequent pilot study.

The pilot study, conducted in parallel, evaluated the acceptability and psychometric properties of several psychological measures across the three disease groups. While specific performance metrics were not reported in the summary, the pilot’s purpose was to identify a valid, reliable, and cost‑effective set of tools for future quantitative analyses within the COACH framework. The subproject’s findings thus laid the groundwork for evidence‑based interventions targeting resilience and coping in this vulnerable cohort.

Collaboration was a cornerstone of the effort. The research team at TRADIA, the Institute for Health Economics and Health Services Research at the University of Cologne, partnered with other COACH consortium members to share data and analytical expertise. A formal cooperation agreement with TRADIA facilitated cross‑project analyses and ensured that the subproject’s results could be integrated into the larger COACH evaluation. The project was funded through a German federal grant, supporting the consortium’s overarching goal of improving care for adolescents with chronic illnesses. Over the course of the funding period, the subproject contributed to the first two COACH objectives: a comprehensive assessment of psychological burdens in the target population and a prospective investigation of personal resources and coping strategies. By identifying key psychosocial predictors of adaptation, the study offers a foundation for designing tailored psychological interventions that can be incorporated into the tiered care model being developed by the consortium.