RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Self-esteem and Depression in Adolescent Diabetic Girls
JF Diabetes Care
JO Diabetes Care
FD American Diabetes Association
SP 18
OP 22
DO 10.2337/diacare.1.1.18
VO 1
IS 1
A1 Sullivan, Barbara-Jean
YR 1978
UL http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/1/1/18.abstract
AB This investigation was designed to examine self-esteem and depression in diabetic adolescent girls. One hundred nondiabetic girls age 12—16 and 105 diabetic girls age 12—16 were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results indicated no significant difference between diabetic and nondiabetic girls in self-esteem scores. Diabetic girls showed significantly more depression than nondiabetic girls. Close examination of results revealed that, in fact, diabetic and nondiabetic adolescent girls were very similar. A major finding was that depression in the diabetic group was expressed primarily through physiologic symptoms of depression as seen in the vital depression scores, rather than through the pessimism, indecision-inhibition, or self-debasement measures of depression. Results were interpreted to mean that diabetic girls did not manifest deeper depression than nondiabetic girls but, rather, a greater awareness of their physiologic status. Diabetes emerged as a focus for the expression of normal adolescent conflicts. The importance of integrating developmental issues into the treatment plans for diabetic patients is emphasized.