Abstract

OBJECTIVE—To systematically study the various coping styles in a population-based sample of adolescents with type 1 diabetes, exploring the association of different coping styles with metabolic control and adolescent self-reported diabetes-related quality of life.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Of a total population of 116 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (age 13–18 years), 103 (89%) participated in the study, completing a questionnaire to obtain information on coping styles and perception of diabetes-specific quality of life. The mean age (±SD) was 14.9 ± 1.6 years, diabetes duration 7.1 ± 3.8 years, HbA_1c 9.4 ± 1.6%, and male-to-female ratio 52:51.

RESULTS—There was a significant correlation between higher HbA_1c values and higher degree of mental (r = 0.25, P < 0.05) and behavioral (r = 0.33, P < 0.01) disengagement and aggressive coping (r = 0.33, P < 0.01). Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that greater use of aggressive coping (P < 0.05) and behavioral disengagement (P < 0.05) were significantly related to increase in HbA_1c. Greater use of active coping (P < 0.05) was significantly related to a decrease in HbA_1c. Partial correlation analysis showed that lower scores on diabetes-specific quality of life were significantly related to greater use of emotion-focused coping (r = −0.22 to −0.49). Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that greater use of mental disengagement was significantly related to lower degree of perceived diabetes-related impact.

CONCLUSIONS—Poor metabolic control and lower degree of diabetes-related quality of life are associated with greater use of emotion-focused coping in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.