The Effect of Classical Massage on the Emotional State of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

Background: According to the International Diabetes Federation, the number of patients with diabetes is increasing every year. It is currently estimated that 1.1 million children and adolescents (Objectives: To find out the effect of classical massage on the emotional state of adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Methods: The study involved 15 adolescents aged 12 to 16 diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least six months. During the study, adolescents underwent five classic back massages (once a week for 30 minutes). Before each massage, participants completed a Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) [5]. They completed a Depression Anxiety Stress Scales at the beginning and end of the study [3]. The research has the permission of the Riga Stradins University Red Cross Medical College Ethics Commission.
Results: The results of the study show that the rate of positive emotions decreased during the massage course (M1 = 2.90, SD = 0.30; M2 = 2.69, SD = 0.38, Coen d = 0.6), which could be explained by the impact of the pandemic situation, while the rate of negative emotions decreased remarkably (M1 = 2.40, SD = 0.31, M2 = 2.15, SD = 0.27, Coen d = 0.8). Depression (M1 = 0.79, SD = 0.77, M2 = 0.70, SD = 0.77 Coen d = 0.10), anxiety (M1 = 0.77, SD = 0.43, M2 = 0.67, SD = 0.47, Coen d = 0.23) and stress (M1 = 0.88, SD = 0.42, M2 = 0.77, SD = 0.45, Coen d = 0.22) have also decreased during the massage course.
Conclusion: The classical massage has a positive effect on the emotional state of adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Although the differences are not statistically significant and the magnitude of the effect is not large due to the sample size, the direction of change is clinically meaningful.