Developmental Differences in Primary and Secondary Control Coping and Adjustment to Juvenile Diabetes

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Abstract
Compared diabetic youngsters at two levels of cognitive maturity to explore developmental differences in relations between child characteristics and adjustment. Differences in coping style and in pattern of relationships emerged between formal operational and pre-formal groups. For example, knowledge about diabetes was positively related to medical adjustment for the formal but not the pre-formal children. Although all child characteristics were related to one or more adjustment measures, no relationship between a child variable and an adjustment measure replicated across the two cognitive level groups. The findings suggest that a develop. mental perspective may help refine our understanding of children's adaptation to chronic illness.