TDT is a chronic hereditary disease that
robs Thai youth of a sense of normalcy, and
tends to interfere with developmental tasks. The
adolescents lived with their differences since their
illness was severe and caused irreversible changes
in their appearance. Thai social beliefs and
values, rooted in Buddhism, were found to
influence the adolescents’ experiences. The
findings provide a better understanding of the
experiences of Thai adolescents living with TDT,
and add to prior knowledge of TDT and other
chronic illnesses. The results are important
contributions towards the development of nursing
interventions to help adolescents with TDT
achieve their highest psychosocial well-being as
they navigate life. A sense of their differences
should be recognized and integrated into nursing
interventions, and preserving normalcy should be
a goal of caring.