Adjustment in diabetic adolescent Girls: I. Development of the Diabetic Adjustment Scale.

A 37-item scale was designed to assess life adjustment in 105 adolescent girls with juvenile diabetes. The scale elicited information on peer relationships, family relationships, body image concerns, dependence-independence conflicts, school adjustment, and attitudes toward diabetes. Results of this initial attempt at measuring diabetic adjustment suggest that this group of girls was relatively well adjusted and that their attitudes toward diabetes correlate positively with many adjustment factors. The importance of self-report scales which address the realities of life with diabetes is emphasized.