OBJECTIVES: To determine the psychological and social adjustment patterns of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes compared with those of a control sample through standardized tests. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared a sample of 81 children and adolescents, aged 8-18 years, from a pediatric outpatient endocrinology unit with a randomized control group (n 162), paired by sex, age and school year. Information on clinical, social and family variables, self-image and self-esteem, health and expectations of change in health status, as well as screening for eating disorders, was collected. Symptoms of depression and anxiety, behavior, and psychosocial adjustment were also evaluated. RESULTS:Children and adolescents with diabetes showed lower self-esteem and poorer self-image than controls. No statistical differences were found in health status and expectations of change or in anxiety symptoms between cases and controls. Differences in depressive symptoms or in personal, social and scholastic adjustment showed no relationship with diabetic status. No significant behavioral disorders were found among the cases. CONCLUSIONS:Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes show appropriate psychosocial adjustment and do not present higher levels of anxiety and depression than healthy controls. They do, however, show lower self-esteem.
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OBJECTIVES: To determine the psychological and social adjustment patterns of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes compared with those of a control sample through standardized tests. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared a sample of 81 children and adolescents, aged 8-18 years, from a pediatric outpatient endocrinology unit with a randomized control group (n 162), paired by sex, age and school year. Information on clinical, social and family variables, self-image and self-esteem, health and expectations of change in health status, as well as screening for eating disorders, was collected. Symptoms of depression and anxiety, behavior, and psychosocial adjustment were also evaluated. RESULTS:Children and adolescents with diabetes showed lower self-esteem and poorer self-image than controls. No statistical differences were found in health status and expectations of change or in anxiety symptoms between cases and controls. Differences in depressive symptoms or in personal, social and scholastic adjustment showed no relationship with diabetic status. No significant behavioral disorders were found among the cases. CONCLUSIONS:Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes show appropriate psychosocial adjustment and do not present higher levels of anxiety and depression than healthy controls. They do, however, show lower self-esteem.