An Investigation of the Effects of Diabetes on Self-Concept

A Status survey one group design was employed to investigate the effects of diabetes on self-concept of 38 diabetics. Ten scales of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale were employed as dependent variables. Seven null hypotheses were written and tested to study the effects of diabetes on self-concept. The findings of this study supported some of the predictions found in the related literature. Such as those made by Biermann and Toohey (1981), Anderson (1982) and Koski, Kumento and Valve (1979). 1. Diabetics appeared to be lower in self-criticism than non-diabetics. 2. Sex class membership did not appear to effect the self-concept of diabetic. 3. Younger diabetics appeared to have a higher self-concept than older diabetics. 4. The length of time individuals had knowledge of their disease did not appear to affect the self-concept of diabetics. 5. Those diabetics with diet only as a control appeared to have a lower self-concept than those employing other types of control. 6. Formal education did not appear to affect the self-concept of diabetics. 7. Self-criticism appeared to be lower and higher within the dimension of family self. The individuals with a high self-criticism score had a lower mean score and the individuals with a low self-criticism score had a higher mean score in the dimension of family self