title: Self-esteem in adolescence: a comparison of adolescents with diabetes mellitus and leukemia.
abstract: This descriptive study examined the self-esteem of adolescents with diabetes mellitus and leukemia. Participants included 22 adolescents with diabetes mellitus and 33 with leukemia. No significant difference was found between the self-esteem of males and females in either group. After the initial diagnosis, over time a decrease in self-esteem in the leukemia group and an increase in self-esteem in the diabetes mellitus group were observed. The adolescents with leukemia who experienced a relapse had moderate self-esteem. Most of the adolescents with leukemia could not attend school because of their illness. The mean scores of self-esteem were high in the diabetes mellitus group and moderate in the leukemia group. In both groups, the mean scores of self-esteem were compared to depressive affect, daydreaming, psychosomatic symptoms, intensity of discussion, and parental interest (subscales in the Rosenberg self-esteem scale). No significant difference was found between the two disease groups. There was a strong and significant correlation between self-esteem and depressive affect in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University School of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cavuşoğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors