Mothers' emotional reactions to diagnosis of diabetes type I in their children

Abstract

Background: Diabetes can disturb the balance of the family system and increase tension in the patients and their families. The proper control of diabetes in children is related to the mothers' emotional control and reduction of their conflicts. Therefore, recognizing the parents' emotional reactions is an important factor for intervention. This study tried to find out the parents' emotional reaction to the diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes in their children.

Methods: In this prospective, descriptive and analytical study, the samples were selected among mothers referred to the Diabetes Center of Amin Hospital after the diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes in their children by endocrinologist. Sampling method was convenience method. Data were collected using SCL90 questionnaire in five steps (0, 1, 3, 6, 12 months after diagnosis) and the statistical tests were used for analysis. Selected mothers were 30 but just 20 of them completed the study.

Results: The major problems of mothers at the onset of diagnosis was depression, physical complain, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive respectively. One month later, the problems were depression, physical complains, obsessive-compulsive and anxiety. In month 3, 6, and 12 after the diagnosis, the problems were depression, physical complain and obsessive-compulsive respectively. It showed that the mean score of parents' emotional reactions decreased by time.

Conclusion: The mothers of diabetic children face emotional problems in the first year after the diagnosis but they adjust themselves with their children's disease. Therefore, it is recommended that hospitals and diabetes centers provide psychiatric and psychotherapy for these parents.

Key words: Emotional reactions, parents of the diabetes children, post-diagnosis