title: Self-image of adolescents with diabetes mellitus type-I and rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The purpose of this research was to determine possible differences in the self-concept of chronically ill and healthy adolescents. A group of adolescents with diabetes mellitus type-I (DM) and a group with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were chosen for the study, together with a control group without any chronic illness. The groups were matched for gender, age (DM 17.8, RA 17.9, control group 17.6 years) and social class. The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) was used to estimate differences between the groups of 23 DM adolescents, 25 RA adolescents and 26 control group adolescents. The scores are reversed; thus the higher the score, the better the self-image. The results indicate that Body Image, and Vocational and Educational Goals were lower in the groups of chronically ill adolescents than in the control group; however, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups on the OSIQ scales. The self-image of adolescents with DM with good metabolic control and moderate and long-lasting RA is relatively well developed.
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic, University of Turku, Finland. ritva.erkolahti@satshp.fi
authors.forename: Ritva K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Erkolahti
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ilonen
authors.forename: Simo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarijärvi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires