Developing and Testing an Intervention to Reduce Distress in Mothers of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and pilot test a program to meet the needs of mothers of adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and improve outcomes in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We conducted focus groups with mothers of adolescents to identify needs and develop a cognitive behavioral intervention aimed at reducing maternal distress, improving parenting practices, and reducing family conflict. This intervention was pilot tested in a randomized trial; mothers were randomized to either the Coping & Communication (N=15) intervention or Usual Care (N=15). Mothers and adolescents completed questionnaires measuring distress, parenting, and family conflict pre- and post-intervention, and HbA1c values were obtained from adolescents' medical records pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Intervention materials (Communication & Coping) received high scores on health literacy and engagement. There was a significant Time × Group interaction for maternal diabetes distress, family conflict (as reported by both mothers and adolescents) and adolescent quality of life. Mothers and adolescents randomized to the intervention group reported significant improvements on these factors as compared to those randomized to usual care. CONCLUSIONS: The Communication & Coping program was developed by adapting existing interventions proven to reduce depressive symptoms and improve parenting practices to address the specific needs of mothers of adolescents with T1D. The program shows promise for not only reducing distress in mothers, but also for improving adolescent outcomes, possibly through reductions in family conflict.

Diabetes-specific family conflict: Informant discrepancies and the impact of parental factors.

Family conflict in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been linked to worse disease management (i.e., glycemic control, adherence to treatment regimen) and reduced quality of life. We sought to examine parental risk factors associated with increased levels of diabetes-specific family conflict and to investigate the discrepancies between parent and adolescent reports of conflict. Adolescents with T1D and their parents (N = 120 dyads) completed measures of diabetes-specific family conflict. Adolescents also reported on health-related quality of life, and parents reported on demographic information. Clinical data were obtained from adolescents' medical records. Adolescents reported significantly greater levels of conflict than their parents around direct diabetes management tasks (e.g., checking blood sugars) and indirect management tasks (e.g., carrying supplies for high or low blood sugars). Several demographic factors were associated with family conflict, including parental education, marital status, and household income. Discrepancies between parent and adolescent reports of family conflict were significantly associated with diabetes-related outcomes. Specifically, higher quality of life was related to discrepancies between parent and adolescent reports of conflict around indirect management tasks. In addition, poorer glycemic control was related to discrepancies between parent and adolescent reports of family conflict around direct diabetes management tasks. These results support obtaining both the adolescent and parent report of conflict for unique information regarding family functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record

Executive Function in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: Relationship to Adherence, Glycemic Control, and Psychosocial Outcomes.

Objective: Impairments in executive function (EF) skills have been observed in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and these skills are critical for following the complex treatment regimen. This study examines parent reports of EF in relation to measures of adherence, glycemic control (A1c), and psychosocial outcomes (depression and quality of life) in adolescents with T1D. A total of 120 adolescents (aged 13-17 years, 52.5% female, 87.5% White) with T1D and their parents completed questionnaires. Glucometers were downloaded and A1c was obtained during clinical visits at the time of enrollment. The prevalence of clinically significant elevated scores on specific EF skills ranged from 11 to 18.6%. In multivariate analyses, parent-reported EF deficits were associated with poorer adherence and lower quality of life, explaining 13 and 12% of the variance, respectively. Adolescents with T1D exhibit specific EF deficits that may negatively impact their quality of life and their ability to engage in self-management activities.

Maternal diabetes distress is linked to maternal depressive symptoms and adolescents' glycemic control.

OBJECTIVE: Mothers of youth with type 1 diabetes experience increased levels of stress and depression related to the burden of diabetes management, but the concept of diabetes distress, or distress linked specifically to diabetes and its management, has not been applied to mothers. The current study examined diabetes distress in relation to maternal depressive symptoms and adolescents' glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Mothers of youth with type 1 diabetes (age: 10-16) completed a measure of depressive symptoms and diabetes distress as part of a screening questionnaire. Adolescents' glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Mothers' diabetes distress was strongly related to maternal depressive symptoms, and relationship-related diabetes distress was significantly associated with adolescents' HbA1c. In multivariate analyses, maternal depression was the only significant predictor of glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS: Given the links between mothers' diabetes distress, maternal depressive symptoms, and adolescents' glycemic control, diabetes distress may be important to consider when targeting both maternal and adolescent adjustment to type 1 diabetes.

Brief report: Sleep disturbances in young children with type 1 diabetes.

This multi-method study, including actigraphy, sleep diaries, and questionnaires, indicated significant sleep disturbances in young children with type 1 diabetes (age 3-5) and insufficient sleep duration in children and their parents. Results provide initial support for sleep as a potential target to improve both diabetes outcomes and parental distress.

Collaborative and Overinvolved Parenting Differentially Predict Outcomes in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the impact of collaborative and intrusive parenting on depression and glycemic control in children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Research examining the association between parenting and child adjustment in this population has been limited by a reliance primarily on questionnaire data and cross-sectional analyses. To address these gaps, the current study used an observational coding system to measure the effects of parenting on child adjustment over a 1-year period. METHOD: Youth (10 to 16 years old) with T1D and their mothers (N = 81) were recruited from an outpatient pediatrics diabetes clinic. Mothers' symptoms of anxiety and depression and children's depressive symptoms were assessed by self- reports; parenting behaviors were assessed via video-recorded observations coded using the Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scales; and adolescents' glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Bivariate correlations and linear regression analyses revealed that higher levels of observed collaborative parenting were related to significantly lower HbA1c 12 months later, and higher levels of observed overinvolved parenting were related to significantly greater child depressive symptoms 12 months later. Further, age and treatment type moderated the relation between overinvolved parenting and child depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Collaborative and overinvolved parenting appears important for adolescents in predicting both psychological and health-related outcomes over time. Parenting behaviors may serve as an important target for future interventions to enhance adjustment in these children. (PsycINFO Database Record

Staying Positive: Positive Affect as a Predictor of Resilience in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are at increased risk for diminished quality of life, deteriorating glycemic control, and psychological symptoms, yet some adolescents are able to adapt to the challenges associated with having diabetes exceptionally well. We sought to examine positive affect as a protective process predicting resilience over time in youth with T1D. METHOD: Adolescents and their mothers completed questionnaire data, and HbA1c was obtained from adolescents' medical records at baseline and after 6 months. Adolescents were coded for observed positive mood during a videotaped interaction with their mothers. RESULTS: Positive mood, including both self-report and observed mood, was associated with glycemic control, psychological symptoms, and quality of life. In addition, positive mood predicted improvements in glycemic control and externalizing problems over 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Positive affect emerged as a protective process for resilient outcomes in adolescents with T1D, suggesting novel targets for intervention in this high-risk population.

Effect of race and marital status on mothers' observed parenting and adolescent adjustment in youth with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine demographic differences in parenting behaviors and adjustment in youth with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Adolescents' psychosocial adjustment was assessed via self-reports and parent reports, and clinical data were obtained from adolescents' medical records. Mother-adolescent dyads (N = 93) engaged in a videotaped discussion task, which was coded for observed parenting behaviors. RESULTS: Single and non-White mothers exhibited significantly more overinvolved and less collaborative parenting behaviors. Higher levels of overinvolved parenting and lower levels of collaborative parenting were associated with poorer adolescent adjustment (i.e., higher levels of externalizing problems). Observed parenting was not significantly associated with glycemic control. There was an indirect effect of marital status and race/ethnicity on externalizing behaviors through parenting. CONCLUSIONS: The current study highlights parenting as a potential target for interventions, especially in single and minority mothers, to improve adjustment in this population.

Good cop, bad cop: quality of parental involvement in type 1 diabetes management in youth.

Sustained parental involvement in diabetes management has been generally advised to counteract the deteriorating adherence and glycemic control often seen during adolescence, yet until recently, little attention has been given to the optimal amount, type, and quality of parental involvement to promote the best health outcomes for adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This review synthesizes research regarding the involvement of caregivers-primarily mothers and fathers-of youth with T1D, with a focus on biopsychosocial outcomes. The recent literature on parental involvement in diabetes management highlights a shift in focus from not only amount but also the types (e.g., monitoring, problem-solving) and quality (e.g., warm, critical) of involvement in both mothers and fathers. We provide recommendations for ways that both parents can remain involved to facilitate greater collaboration in shared direct and indirect responsibility for diabetes care and improve outcomes in youth with T1D.