Relationships with Mother and Peers in Pre-Adolescent Children with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;">The paper examines the relationship of children with insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes) with their mother and peers. The study involved 30 children aged 10&ndash;12 years (M=11.26; SD=0.69), and their mothers. 14 mother&ndash;child pairs formed the experimental group of children with type 1 diabetes; 16 mother&ndash;child pairs were included in the control group. The methods used were "Parent-child interaction"; the "Family relationship test"; the "My usual day with a child" essay; the "My usual day with mom" conversation with the child; the "Features of interaction with the parent" questionnaire for teachers; the "Features of communication of the child" questionnaire for teachers and educators; a modified version of the "Unfinished sentences" methodology. The results of the study suggest that control, exactingness, guardianship on the part of the mother can act as a way of coping with the situation of the child's illness. Mothers of children with diabetes are more focused on their own feelings and experiences; the main target of their concern is the health and education of the child. It is noted that children with diabetes, when interacting with peers, more often than healthy peers, demonstrate conformity, a friendly or neutral attitude, preferring to avoid situations of conflict or to solve them with the help of an adult. The links between the low competence of a child with type 1 diabetes in the ability to negotiate with peers, take leadership positions, and a "cooperating" relationship with the mother were revealed. Maternal control and hyper-indulgence in relation to healthy children is associated with a low level of interaction of the child with peers, his ability to solve communicative tasks.</p>