Stress in Type 1 Diabetic Children and their Parents: Coping Styles with and without Psychological Treatment

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is the most common chronic disease in childhood. It not only affects health, but also creates great stress on both the patient and his/her family as well. OBJECTIVE: To assess the coping styles for stress in children with T1D and their parents, by comparing a group receiving systematic psychological treatment to a similar one without such treatment. METHODS: There was a sample of 34 T1D children aged 9 to 14 years old and one of their parents. Two groups were made: 17 children and their father or mother who undergo a systematic psychological treatment during a nine months period and 17 without such treatment (control group). Lazarus and Folkman questionnaires were used to measure the coping strategies in children and adults. RESULTS: Both children and parents from the group receiving psychological treatment had higher scores on problem-focused strategies than those in the control group, which in turn showed greater levels of emotion-focused unhealthy strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the importance of psychological assistance to improve healthy coping of T1D in children and their parents.