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Puerto Rico
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic illness that affects the psychosocial adjustment of children and adolescents (Johnson, 1980). IDDM has been related to a low self-esteem and as affecting the sense of identity, autonomy and future goal orientation. The present study was designed with the purpose of examining the relation between self-esteem and metabolic control. Ninety-eight children and adolescents with IDDM and 217 children and adolescents without chronic illnessess from a community sample were evaluated using the Piers-Harris Children´s Self-Concept Scale (Piers, 1972) and a metabolic control measure (HbA1c). statistical analyses of correlations and t test were used. These revealed significant differences in self-esteem only by duration of the condition. Those with two years or more with IDDM reflected lower self-esteem (t=2.11, p<.05). No differences were found between gender and metabolic control. Implications of the results and recommendations for future studies are discussed.
