The Role of Authoritative Parenting in Adolescent Type 1 Diabetes Management.

Objective: Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes are at risk for poorer adherence, lower quality of life (QOL), and poorer glycemic control (HbA1c). Authoritative parenting (AP) along with youth adherence and QOL was hypothesized to relate to better HbA1c. Methods: Parent-youth dyads (N = 257) completed baseline measures of adherence and QOL. Youth completed an AP questionnaire, and HbA1c samples were evaluated. Structural equation modeling determined relations among AP, adherence, QOL, and glycemic control. Results: AP indirectly linked to better HbA1c (ß = -.15, p = .021) through both better adherence and higher QOL. AP also was associated directly with better adherence (ß = .26, p = .001), which in turn was linked to better HbA1c (ß = -.35, p = .021). In addition, adherence was associated directly with QOL (ß = -.56, p = .001). Conclusions: Together, better youth adherence and higher QOL are two mechanisms by which more AP indirectly relates to better glycemic control during the early adolescent years.

Adopted youth and sleep difficulties.

Sleep is a critical component of healthy development for youth, with cascading effects on youth's biological growth, psychological well-being, and overall functioning. Increased sleep difficulties are one of many disruptions that adopted youth may face throughout the adoption process. Sleep difficulties have been frequently cited as a major concern by adoptive parents and hypothesized in the literature as a problem that may affect multiple areas of development and functioning in adopted youth. However, there is limited research exploring this relationship. Using a biopsychosocial framework, this paper reviews the extant literature to explore the development, maintenance, and impact of sleep difficulties in adopted youth. Finally, implications for future research and clinical interventions are outlined.