The Effectiveness of Resilience Training on the Self-Esteem of Mothers of Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Clinical Trial Study

Type 1 diabetes is considered one of the most common chronic diseases during childhood. Diagnosis and presence of chronic disease in the child create tension, worry, and problems for parents, particularly for the mother who is responsible for taking care of the child. The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of resilience training on the self-esteem of mothers of children with type 1 diabetes.

This clinical trial was carried out on 60 mothers of children with type 1 diabetes referring to diabetes clinics in the cities of Gonbad-e-Kavus and Gorgan, Golestan province, during 2022-23. Mothers were selected by the convenience sampling method and using a random number table and were assigned to two 30-people control and intervention groups. The resilience training program was implemented for the intervention group in 5-people groups for nine 90-minute sessions during 2 months. The data collection tool consisted of a demographic questionnaire and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) filled out in two pre-test and post-test phases. Scoring of poor, moderate, and strong self-esteem was carried out by obtaining scores of 26 and below, 27-43, and over 44.

The mean and standard deviation of the overall self-esteem (22.73±3.26), social (7.32±0.79), occupational/social (7±1.46), and general self-esteem (44.73±5.03) dimensions had a statistically significant increase in the post-test in mothers of the intervention group compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). The mean and standard deviation of the self-esteem scores of mothers in the intervention group were evaluated as moderate at the onset of the study and strong at the post-test (P<0.05).

Resilience training culminated in increasing the self-esteem of mothers of children with type 1 diabetes.