Dissimilarity in adolescent and maternal representations of Type 1 diabetes: exploration of relations to adolescent well-being.

PURPOSE

To compare the illness representations of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and their mothers, and to explore how congruence and incongruence influences adolescent psychological adjustment.

METHODS

A total of 30 adolescents (13-19 years) with Type 1 diabetes completed self-report questionnaires of illness representations and psychological well-being; 26 mothers completed the illness representation questionnaire.

RESULTS

t-Test and correlation analyses showed convergence on the majority of the illness representation dimensions with maternal representations differing significantly on only two dimensions: perceiving their adolescent's diabetes to have more serious consequences and to have a greater emotional impact. Computation of dissimilarity scores between mothers and adolescents, showed mothers to maximize the seriousness of diabetes across several dimensions, but no significant associations were found with adolescent psychological well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic illness in children and young people exists in a social context and the management of diabetes requires an ongoing supportive relationship between parent and child. The results show a high degree of consistency in the beliefs adolescents and their mothers hold, and such congruence is presumed to benefit psychological well-being. However, the mediators and moderators for family belief processes are unclear and several possibilities are discussed.