Parental attachment insecurity and parenting stress: The mediating role of parents’ perceived impact of children’s diabetes on the family.

Abstract

Introduction:Caring for a child with diabetes is a demanding and potentially stressful task for parents. Although secure attachment can be considered a resilience factor that helps an individual to cope with stressful life events, the idea that secure parents are better able to cope with a child's chronic health condition, such as diabetes, has rarely been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether attachment-related anxiety and avoidance are associated with parenting stress in parents of children and adolescents with diabetes and whether this association is mediated by parents' perception of the impact of diabetes on the family and moderated by children's age and duration of diabetes. Method: A sample of 105 parents (92.4% mothers) completed self-report measures of attachment, parenting stress, and perceived impact. Results: Higher levels of attachment avoidance (but not anxiety) were associated with higher levels of parenting stress through an increased negative perception of the impact of diabetes. Discussion: This study suggests that parents with higher levels of avoidance are at higher risk of experiencing greater parenting stress and perceiving their child's condition as more burdensome.

Apego y estrés en niños con Diabetes tipo 1 y sus madres

“…Se ha visto que pacientes con apego evitativo presentan menor adherencia al tratamiento que pacientes con apego seguro y ansioso 20 . Los padres de niños(as) con DM1 con apego evitativo presentan mayor estrés parental e impacto más negativo de la DM1 que cuidadores con otros patrones de apego 14 .…”

Challenges Experienced by Parents of Emerging Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus During the Transition to College

“…Over 80% of young adults with T1DM do not routinely meet American Diabetes Association (ADA) glycemic recommendations, with the increased risk of undesired glycemic control continuing through age 25. [4][5][6] EYAs with continued parental involvement in their care have better T1DM-related outcomes [7][8][9][10][11] ; however, there is limited guidance from the ADA regarding appropriate level of parental involvement as EYAs approach adulthood, and there is limited research focused on the challenges that parents of EYAs with T1DM encounter during the college transition. Parents who are concerned about EYAs' daily T1DM management experience increased levels of distress, which may negatively impact the transition process, including the ability to let go.…”

Maternal Experiences of Transitioning Their Emerging Adult With Type 1 Diabetes to College

“…T1DM management is positively influenced by parental support as well as mutual respect between parent and the emerging adult. [19][20][21][22][23] As parental support decreases, emerging adults' autonomy and responsibility for their T1DM self-management increases. 24 This transition to self-management may add to existing stressors as emerging adults concurrently progress through both developmental changes and diabetes-specific tasks in the college environment with its different challenges.…”