Abstract
Eighty young people between the ages of eleven and seventeen years, who had been diagnosed to have insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) at least one year previously, took part in this study. They completed three questionnaires to assess their psychosocial adaptation to diabetes, their perception of aspects of their relationship with their mother and the behaviours they used to cope with their diabetes. Their parents were interviewed to gather information about family composition, level of supervision of diabetes-related behaviours, school attendance and parental concerns about the young person with diabetes. The HbAlc level from a clinic visit within two weeks of data collection was used as a measure of diabetic control. Regression analyses found that Emotional Difficulty with Diabetes was predicted by coping styles related to ignoring the diabetes, wishful thinking about it, and failing to share concern about diabetes. A Negative Attitude to Diabetes among the participants was found to be predicted by failing to acknowledge it. Missing school due to diabetes was found to be associated with the young people’s perception of their mothers as Overprotective. No direct relationship between HbAlc levels and any of the measures used was found, but a tentative curvilinear relationship between HbAlc levels and maternal Care was identified. The level of supervision provided by parents was found to decrease with increasing age of the young person with IDDM. A range of concerns were identified by the parents of the participants, relating to independence, long term outcomes and daily adherence to diabetes care regimes. These findings are discussed with particular reference to their clinical implications and the ways in which they could inform therapeutic interventions to help young people with diabetes and their families.