The Effect of Spiritual Self-Care Training on the Sleep Quality of Adolescents with Diabetes

Adolescence is a sensitive and critical stage of human development marked by numerous physical, sexual, and mental changes. Chronic diseases can significantly impact the identity formation process during adolescence due to its unique developmental characteristics. Diabetes, as one such chronic disease, has long-term effects on adolescents, including low sleep quality. Spirituality, particularly in children and adolescents, alongside routine care, can influence how individuals cope with stress, pain intensity, interpersonal relationships, and their overall quality of life, ultimately enhancing the lives of children with chronic diseases.

This experimental study aimed to investigate the impact of spiritual self-care training on the sleep quality of adolescents aged 12 to 20 with diabetes. The study was conducted in Qaemshahr city, with participants recruited from comprehensive urban and rural health service centers, using a simple random allocation method. A pre-test and post-test design was employed, with a total of 66 diabetic teenagers (33 in the test group, 33 in the control group) who provided written consent. Data were collected using the Petersburg Sleep Quality Questionnaire. The test group received training in White's spiritual self-care during six sessions lasting 30 to 45 minutes each. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

Prior to the intervention, the average sleep quality was 15.06±3.4 in the test group and 13.84±3.38 in the control group. After the intervention, the control group's sleep quality improved to 14.26±3.31, while the test group's sleep quality improved significantly to 12.47±3.49 (P < 0.01, Eta = 0.12). Notably, 12% of the improvements in sleep quality were attributed to the spiritual self-care of diabetic adolescents. Significant differences were observed in the components of mental quality of sleep, sleep duration, and daily dysfunction (p < 0.01).

The study highlights the significant role of spiritual self-care training in enhancing the sleep quality of diabetic adolescents, emphasizing the potential for nurses and healthcare workers to provide this training to patients. It is recommended that this research be expanded to include complementary self-care methods in various communities, especially in larger cities. Additionally, longitudinal studies are encouraged to assess the long-term effects of this intervention.