Disturbed eating attitudes, coping styles, and subjective quality of life in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes

Objectives: To evaluate coping styles and quality of life in youth with Type I diabetes with and without eating disorders and to identify relationships between these variables in each group. Methods: Adolescents were evaluated for eating disorders with a two-stage diagnostic procedure. Adolescents with and without eating disorders then provided data on coping styles and on subjective well-being. Results: Adolescents with Type I diabetes and disordered eating behavior reported more often blaming themselves and resorting to wishful thinking and poorer physical and psychosocial quality of life than do adolescents with Type I diabetes without disordered eating behavior. Specific coping strategies were also positively linked with quality of life and metabolic control. Conclusions: Eating disorders and disordered eating behavior in adolescents with Type I diabetes seem to be associated with certain negative and avoidant coping strategies and with impeded physical and biopsychosocial well-being. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.