Parental levels of stress managing a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Riyadh: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Caring for a child with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) pose a significant burden on parents especially when they struggle with their child's T1D management. The experience of not coping or struggling to cope increases the level of stress in parents, which may adversely affect their child's diabetic control (Al Dubayee et al, Horm Res Paediatr 88:2019). In this study, we assessed the level of stress parents experience in caring for a child diagnosed with T1D in four different domains. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in two specialized diabetic centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from February to May 2015 (Al Dubayee et al, Horm Res Paediatr 88:2019). We used an Arabic translation of the validated Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) questionnaire. The frequency and perceived difficulty of stressful events were rated by interviewing parents caring for children with T1D using two 5-point Likert scales. Results: The sample realized as 390 parents. The level of stress increased in separated and unemployed parents. The frequency (mean 64.9/210, SD 7.529) and difficulty (mean 65.3/210, SD 9.448) indices of the parental level of stress were compared with variables possibly associated with stress. Both of the frequency difficulty indices correlated with the marital status, the father's level of education and occupation as well as HbA1c level (P-value < 0.05). In addition, the frequency index correlated with the frequency of hypoglycemia and the difficulty index correlated with the number of children in the family (P-value < 0.05). Conclusion: Parents of children with T1D in Riyadh experience a significant level of stress that may affect the child's glycemic control (Al Dubayee et al, Horm Res Paediatr 88:2019). Assessing the level of stress and providing support for these families has the potential to improve the clinical outcome.

Mothers and Fathers Parenting Stress and Their Perception of Children’s Psychosocial Functioning in Paediatric Diabetes: A Pilot Study

“…According to the most recent epidemiological data in Italy, the onset of pediatric diabetes mostly occurs between 9 and 11 years of age [ 2 , 46 ]. In the context of pediatric diabetes, parents might be at greater risk of perceiving an intense level of parenting stress, due to their key role in the management of their child’s diabetes [ 12 ]. Most of the studies have focused on mothers’ parenting stress related to the children’s chronic illness, considering them as the primary caregivers involved in administering the insulin and the strict diet regimen [ 23 , 29 ].…”

“…Authors suggest that, where T1DM is concerned, the psychological functioning of parents and children are mutually related, thereby directly influencing each other [ 7 ]. In the specific case of parenting a child with T1DM, parenting stress is influenced by factors such as the responsibility felt toward the child’s diabetes-management and anxious states concerning the fear of hypoglycemia [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ] as well as the frequency of hypoglycemia, the number of years since diagnosis and demographic variables such as marital status and education level [ 12 ]. Indeed, parents’ diabetes-specific stress can have repercussions on their well-being [ 4 ], and in turn on that of their children, thereby potentially influencing the child’s Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and also on their depression symptoms [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

The impact of hypoglycaemia in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes on parental quality of life and related outcomes: A systematic review

“…Six studies did not report parents' age. 24,[27][28][29][30][31] Nine of the 12 studies focused their analyses on parents and caregivers alone (reporting only demographic and clinical data from children), [9][10][11][23][24][25][26]30,31 while three studies reported results from both parents and children. [27][28][29] The mean ± SD age of children ranged from 5 ± 2 to 15 ± 2 years.…”

“…Two studies did not provide a definition of or recall period for hypoglycaemia, and only reported on the frequency of hypoglycaemia. 24,26 Table 2 summarizes the definitions and measures of hypoglycaemia.…”

“…Eleven studies used psychological scales validated previously in a diabetes context. [9][10][11][23][24][25][27][28][29][30][31] Ten studies were marked as "unclear" for a valid measurement of the exposure (hypoglycaemia). [9][10][11]23,[25][26][27][28]30,31 This was due to the fact that no standardized definition or guideline for determining hypoglycaemia in children (e.g., ISPAD guidelines 8 ) was used to obtain information on episodes of hypoglycaemia.…”