Social support and personal models of diabetes in relation to self-care and well-being in adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus

This study set out to examine whether peer support and illness representati on mediates the link between family support, self-management and well-being . Seventy-four participants (12-18-years-old) with type I diabetes mellitus completed questionnaires assessing their self-management, depression, anxi ety, perceived social support and personal models of diabetes. Perceived im pact of diabetes, but not perceived seriousness, and peer support were sign ificant predictors of depression. Family support was a significant predicto r of all self-management measures. However, for dietary selfmanagement this relationship was partially mediated by the perceived efficacy of treatment to control diabetes, but not efficacy of treatment re, prevent complicatio ns. (C) 1998 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.