COMPARISON OF SELF-ESTEEM BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS WITH INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS AND HEALTHY ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Adolescence is seen as an intense period of growth that represents the transition from childhood to adulthood, from immaturity to maturity. Adolescents are characterized by instability, tunnoil and disturbances. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases in adolescence phase and requires special self-care behaviors throughout life. If an adolescent is faced with type 1 diabetes during this period, the maintenance and enhancement of positive self-esteem is more difficult. So the aim of this study was to compare self-esteem of adolescents with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and healthy adolescents.

This study was carried out in Diabetes Mellitus Out-Patient Clinic and Medical Department in Children University Hospital at El-shatby and Student Health Insurance Hospital at Sporting in Alexandria. Healthy adolescents were recruited from four schools in Alexandria: Ras Alteen secondary school for girls, Alanfoshi secondary school for boys, Alanfoshi preparatory school for girls, Kaytbay preparatory school for boys which were chosen randomly.

A sample of 160 adolescents represents the subjects of this study. Their ages ranged from 12 to 20 years. They were divided into 2 equal groups, convenient sample of 80 adolescents with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and free from any other physical illnesses which was recruited from both hospitals, and random sample of 80 healthy adolescents from the previously mentioned four schools.