Characteristics of depressiveness among adolescents with diabetes mellitus

The objective of this article was to establish the characteristics of depressiveness among adolescents with diabetes. Adolescents aged 14 and 16 years suffering from diabetes, healthy ones, and their parents were enrolled in the study. A total of 260 adolescents (100 adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 160 healthy ones) were interviewed. To measure adolescents’ depressiveness, a new scale was constructed using different questionnaires (Maastricht, Hamilton, Beck). Parents’ depressiveness was measured with Beck depression scale. This study showed that 16-year-old girls with diabetes were more depressed than the healthy ones. Mothers of 14-year-old adolescents and 16-year-old girls with diabetes are more depressed than the healthy adolescents’ mothers. Results of the study confirmed that depressiveness of 14- and 16-year-old girls with diabetes and that of their mothers were related. The relationship between the depressiveness of mothers of 14-year-old boys with diabetes mellitus and bad glycemic control of their sons was determined. The following peculiarities of depressiveness among adolescents with diabetes were found: 14-year-old girls had more negative attitude toward themselves; 16-year-old girls were very sensitive and had depressed mood; 16-year-old boys complained about lowered daily activity.