Coping and Psychosocial Adjustment in Mothers of Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

This study examined symptoms of anxiety and depression in mothers of young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in relation to mothers’ fears of hypoglycemia, perceptions of coping, and children’s metabolic control. Sixty-seven mothers of children less than 8 years of age diagnosed with T1D completed self-report measures, and children’s metabolic control was measured with glycosolated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Twenty-one percent of mothers reported clinically significant levels of symptoms of anxiety, and twenty-four percent reported clinically significant levels of depression. Lower income level and finding it more upsetting to cope with diabetes-related stress accounted for higher symptoms of anxiety and depression in mothers. Mothers’ symptoms were not related to children’s metabolic control. Recommendations are made for screening mothers and providing supportive interventions to alleviate their distress.

Fear of hypoglycemia, anxiety, and subjective well-being in parents of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

“…The data from studies which explored the association between child's higher HbA1c values and higher FOH in parents are inconsistent. Some studies have not found associations (Cameron et al, 2007;Gonder-Frederick et al, 2006;Jaser et al, 2009), whereas others have Knowledge: parent's rating of self-perceived knowledge about child's diabetes (on a Likert scale from 1 (extremely bad) to 7 (extremely good)).…”

Sleep Behaviors and Parent Functioning in Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes

“…Increased behavioral insomnia in children was also associated with greater difficulty with parenting stress and depressive symptoms. Parents of children with type 1 diabetes are already at risk for increased anxiety and depression (Jaser et al, 2009), and child sleep disturbance may further contribute to poor parental psychosocial functioning (Meltzer & Moore, 2008). Additionally, the relationship may be bidirectional, such that increased parental stress and depression may also predict greater child sleep problems (El-Sheikh et al, 2007).…”

“…Parents of young children with type 1 diabetes understandably assume the majority of responsibility for diabetes care, including daily insulin injections, blood glucose (BG) checks, carbohydrate counting, and prevention of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes (Sullivan-Bolyai, Deatrick, Gruppuso, Tamborlane, & Grey, 2002). The demands of caring for a young child with type 1 diabetes can feel relentless and constant vigilance is required (Jaser, Whittemore, Ambrosino, Lindemann, & Grey, 2009; Sullivan-Bolyai, Deatrick, Gruppuso, Tamborlane, & Grey, 2003). However, although the demands of caring for young children with diabetes have been well-documented with respect to daytime management behaviors such as meals and physical activity (Sullivan-Bolyai et al, 2003), much less is known about how daily diabetes management demands impact bedtime routines and child sleep.…”

Mealtime behavior and diabetes-specific parent functioning in young children with type 1 diabetes.

“…Most studies have attempted to explore these complex relations in isolation with small or mixed samples that include both young and school-age children (Jaser et al, 2009; Powers et al, 2002); thus, this study further aimed to model interrelated factors associated with glycemic control with structural equation modeling in a relatively large sample of young children with T1D. We predicted that poorer diabetes-specific parent functioning (i.e., more hypoglycemic fear, lower perceived efficacy for diabetes management, and poorer diabetes quality of life) would be associated with more frequent parent and child mealtime behavior problems, which would in turn be associated with poorer glycemic control (i.e.…”