Stressors and Coping Patterns of Newly Versus Old Diagnosed Children with Type1 DiabetesMellitus: An Assessment Study

Background: Children with type1 diabetes are at a greater risk for emotional and behavioral
problems. Children with poorly controlled diabetes are at risk of negative effects on the child's
personality, schooling, participation in activities, finally leading to stressors uprising. Research
Design: A descriptive comparative design was utilized in this study. Aim: This study aimed to
assess the stressors and coping patterns of newly versus old diagnosed children with type1
diabetes and to assess factors affecting stressors and coping of newly and old diagnosed children
with type1 diabetes. Setting: This study was conducted at Diabetes Outpatient Clinics of
Children's Hospitals affiliated to Ain Shams and Tanta universities. Subjects: The study involved
200 children aged from birth to 18 years old diagnosed with type1 diabetes, (57) of them were
newly diagnosed since less than 6 months and (143) were old diagnosed children with type1
diabetes since more than 6 months period. Tools of data collection: 1-A questionnaire sheet to
assess children‟s characteristics, factors affecting stressors, coping patterns and physical,
psychological and social stressors affecting the newly and old diagnosed children with type1
diabetes. 2-Stress scale to assess the behavior of the diabetic children towards type1 diabetes. 3-
Coping patterns scale to assess the diabetic children coping patterns towards type1 diabetes.
Results: Old diagnosed children had more physical (37.1%), psychological (70.6%) and social
stressors (71.3%) compared with newly diagnosed children with type1 diabetes. Stress level was
mild (33.3% and 37.1%) and moderate (22.8% and 24.5%) in both newly and old diagnosed
children and both of them were sometimes (42.1% and 43.4%) able to cope with type1 diabetes.
Factors affecting stressors and coping patterns were children age and ranking. There was a
significant difference between newly and old diagnosed children related to stressors, stress,
coping patterns and their age, ranking and parental discovery of diabetes. Conclusion: Old
diagnosed children with type1 diabetes had physical, psychological and social stressors more than
newly diagnosed children and both of them were sometimes able to cope with type1 diabetes.
Factors affecting stressors and coping patterns of newly and old diagnosed children with type1
diabetes were child‟s age, ranking and parental discovery of type1 diabetes. Recommendations:
Designing and carrying out programs to support newly, old diagnosed children and their parents
to cope with type1 diabetes and minimize their physical, psychological and social stressors