Ajuste personal en niños y adolescentes diabéticos y no diabéticos

Abstract

The following research aims to check for possible differences between a group of children and adolescents with diabetes and a group with no diabetes, in regards to personal adjustment. A total of 88 families with children between the ages of 10 and 18 years old participated in the study, of which 42 suffer from diabetes and the other 46 do not suffer from diabetes. The instrument selected for measuring social adjustment (dimensions made up of self-esteem, self- confidence, interpersonal relationships and relationships with parents) was the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). The different sample analyses conclude that diabetic children tend to score lower in this global dimension, although the differences found between both groups are not significant. However, the subscales of self- confidence (children) and self-esteem (adolescents) are able to observe significant differences between both groups. These scores suggest that, as numerous studies from this field have been showing, the appearance of this illness causes high rates of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem mainly during adolescence, that’s why they have to promote positive attitudes and resilience in order to improve their situation. They also demonstrate the importance of emphasizing the independence of children with diabetes, in order to help them gain self- confidence in support of improving this skill.