THE COPING STYLES OF ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Background: The importance of developmental prospective in understanding the variability in diabetic adolescent's coping efforts is underscored in Iraq.Objective: This work was carried out to assess the association between the coping styles and higher level of perceived diabetes related worries.Methods: 160 adolescents with type 1 diabetes were enrolled in this study from different diabetes centers in Baghdad city for the period 1st June to 21st Dec. 2000. Each participant interviewed individually. Full information including age, sex, and duration of diabetes, sport activity and visits to diabetic clinics and a diabetic related worries subscales were used. Coping styles (active and aggressive coping styles) were assessed by selected subscales. The influences of coping styles and other variables on diabetic related worries were examined by stepwise regression analysis.Results: Higher perception of diabetic related worry was significantly associated with active coping, aggressive coping, emotional support and sex. Age and visits to diabetic clinics were not associated with higher perceived diabetic related worry.Conclusion: The finding demonstrated the importance of coping behavior to perceived diabetic worries, which in turn affects the metabolic control. Key words: diabetic adolescents, coping styles, Iraq