Effects of Coping Skills Training in School-Age Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Children with type 1 diabetes are at risk for negative psychosocial and physiological outcomes, Particularly as they enter adolescence. The purpose of this randomized trial (n=82) was to determine the effects, mediators,and moderators of a coping skills training intervention (n=53) for school-aged children compared to general diabetes education (n=29). Both groups improved over time, reporting lower impact of diabetes, better coping with diabetes, better diabetes self-efficacy, fewer depressive symptoms, and less parental control. Treatment modality (pump vs. injections) moderated intervention efficacy on select outcomes. Findings suggest that group-based interventions may be beneficial for this age group. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 32:405-418, 2009