Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the association of mothers' emotional intelligence and coping strategies with diabetes management in adolescents with Type-1diabetes.

Design and methods: Mothers of adolescents with Type-1 diabetes (aged 12-17 years) participated in the study (n=75). The following questionnaires were used: TEI Que-SF and Brief-COPE with additional questions about diabetes management and socio–demographic questions. The primary indicator of diabetes management was glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Data was collected via paper questionnaire and through an online survey in 2023.

Results: Mothers whose child had optimal diabetes management showed higher emotional intelligence sociability traits than mothers whose child had poor diabetes management (p =0.029). Coping strategies were not statistically significantly associated with diabetes management in adolescents with Type-1 diabetes (p >0.05). Finally, higher emotional intelligence of mothers of adolescents with Type-1 diabetes was found to be statistically significantly associated with problem-focused coping (rho =0.669, p<0.001) and emotion-focused coping (rho = 0.321, p =0.005), while lower emotional intelligence was statistically significantly associated with avoidant coping (rho = -0.434, p <0.001).

Conclusions: The sociability trait of emotional intelligence was higher in mothers of adolescents with Type-1 diabetes when the child had optimal diabetes management. Higher maternal emotional intelligence predicted problemfocused and emotion-focused coping, whereas lower emotional intelligence predicted avoidant coping.

Practical implication: The development of the sociability trait of emotional intelligence could improve maternal functioning in social contexts and act as a mediator for better diabetes management.