Chronic pediatric disease: A comparative study of anxiety, depression and self-esteem levels

Adolescents with a chronic disease (CD), such as bronchial asthma, Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 or short stature, should adapt to the challenge of the diagnosis in this vital stage of important changes, which can contribute to the emergence of emotional difficulties and impact their self-esteem. The aims of the present study were to analyze the levels of the anxious-depressive symptomatology and self-esteem of the total sample and for each of the diseases studied, to observe the relationships between the variables analyzed and to establish differences depending on the diagnosis. The sample was composed of 248 pediatric patients with CD. Specific instruments were used to evaluate the emotional psychological clinic (Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, RSES). The results showed that one-third of pediatric patients presented symptoms of anxiety and 27% low levels of self-esteem. Asthmatic patients were those who had lower self-esteem, and in the total sample are the boys who presented better self-esteem. The emotional symptomatology is negatively and significantly related to self-esteem. The patient's age was negatively associated with anxiety and self-esteem shown by these patients. In this way, it is concluded that the disease itself does not involve the presence of emotional distress and self-esteem functions as a protective factor. A physical and psychological approach to disease is necessary to detect those cases that are poorly adjusted and provide early psychological intervention.