[Coping strategies of children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus: the German language version of KIDCOPE].

Coping with disease-related and everyday problems in chronically ill children and adolescents have not yet been studied with a standardized instrument in German speaking countries. Thus we have translated the KIDCOPE (Spirito et al. 1988) into German and conducted a cross-sectional study on coping behaviours of children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus. 43 children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years have been tested; metabolic control has been identified by HbA1c-values. The internal consistency of the KIDCOPE (German Version) is sufficient. Children most frequently use wishful thinking, social support and problem solving. Adolescents rely on resignation (especially with disease-related stressors), but also wishful thinking, social support, problem-solving and cognitive restructuring. Self-criticism and blaming others were used only rarely by both age-groups. Children and adolescents rate social support as the most efficient coping strategy. Whereas almost no gender differences occurred, significant situational differences could be found, which confirm the person-situation-transactions-model of Lazarus. The quality of metabolic control showed no effect on frequencies of coping strategies. The KIDCOPE is a brief self-report test for school aged children and adolescents. It can be easily applied in clinical settings to assess coping with disease-related and everyday problems.