Stress and coping style in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their influence on disease self-management

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the influence of demographic and clinical characteristics, stress, and coping style on disease self-management in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed to select 149 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (aged 8-20 years). Related data were collected using the questionnaires and scales on general information, diabetes self-management, perceived stress, and coping style.Results Of the 149 children and adolescents, 37(24.8%) had high stress. Compared with the school-aged children, the adolescents had higher stress level and were more likely to present with negative coping style (P < 0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the children whose mothers had an educational level at or above senior high school, who had a low stress level, and who adopted positive coping measures had a higher level of diabetes self-management (P < 0.05).Conclusions Nearly a quarter of the children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes have a high stress level. When delivering the education on diabetes self-management to children and adolescents, healthcare workers should focus on the families whose mothers have an educational level at or below junior high school. Strategies should aim at reducing stress by encouraging positive coping styles.