Parental Diabetes Behaviors and Distress Are Related to Glycemic Control in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: Longitudinal Data from the DINO Study

Abstract EN

Objective.

To evaluate (1) the longitudinal relationship between parental well-being and glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes and (2) if youth’s problem behavior, diabetes parenting behavior, and parental diabetes-distress influence this relationship.

Research Design and Methods.

Parents of youth 8–15 yrs (at baseline) (N=174) participating in the DINO study completed questionnaires at three time waves (1 yr interval).

Using generalized estimating equations, the relationship between parental well-being (WHO-5) and youth’s HbA1c was examined.

Second, relationships between WHO-5, Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Diabetes Family Behavior Checklist (DFBC), Problem Areas In Diabetes-Parent Revised (PAID-Pr) scores, and HbA1c were analyzed.

Results.

Low well-being was reported by 32% of parents.

No relationship was found between parents’ WHO-5 scores and youth’s HbA1c (β=−0.052, p=0.650).

WHO-5 related to SDQ (β=−0.219, p<0.01), DFBC unsupportive scale (β=−0.174, p<0.01), and PAID-Pr (β=−0.666, p<0.01).

Both DFBC scales (supportive β=−0.259, p=0.01; unsupportive β=0.383, p=0.017), PAID-Pr (β=0.276, p<0.01), and SDQ (β=0.424, p<0.01) related to HbA1c.

Conclusions.

Over time, reduced parental well-being relates to increased problem behavior in youth, unsupportive parenting, and parental distress, which negatively associate with HbA1c.

More unsupportive diabetes parenting and distress relate to youth’s problem behavior.