Psychological functioning among mothers of children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: a longitudinal study.
Published
Journal Article
Mothers of children with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were assessed repeatedly over a period of 6 years in order to determine the psychological correlates of managing this chronic illness. Both maternal depression and overall emotional distress after the 1st year of the IDDM increased slightly with illness duration and were also influenced by other factors. Mothers' adjustment shortly after their children were diagnosed with IDDM was a strong predictor of their long-term emotional symptomatology. However, mothers' symptoms over time were not related to medical aspects of IDDM (i.e., the extent of the children's metabolic control, number of rehospitalizations, or their compliance with the medical regimen) and were also unrelated to the levels of depression or anxiety reported by their children. Mothers generally found it easier to cope with the IDDM the longer their children had the illness. However, the degree to which mothers perceived the IDDM to be bothersome or difficult to manage at any given point in time was associated with their overall levels of emotional distress.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Kovacs, M; Iyengar, S; Goldston, D; Obrosky, DS; Stewart, J; Marsh, J
Published Date
- April 1990
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 58 / 2
Start / End Page
- 189 - 195
PubMed ID
- 2335636
Pubmed Central ID
- 2335636
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0022-006X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1037//0022-006x.58.2.189
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States