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. 2012 May;37(4):467-78.
doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsr110. Epub 2012 Jan 19.

Families with children with diabetes: implications of parent stress for parent and child health

Vicki S Helgeson  1 , Dorothy Becker, Oscar Escobar, Linda Siminerio
Affiliations

Families with children with diabetes: implications of parent stress for parent and child health

Vicki S Helgeson et al. J Pediatr Psychol. 2012 May.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relation of parent stress to parent mental health and child mental and physical health.

Methods: We interviewed children with type 1 diabetes (n = 132; mean age 12 years) annually for 5 years and had one parent complete a questionnaire at each assessment. Parents completed measures of general life stress, stress related to caring for a child with diabetes, benefit finding, and mental health. Child outcomes were depressive symptoms, self-care behavior, and glycemic control. Multilevel modeling was used to examine concurrent and longitudinal relations.

Results: Greater parent general stress and greater parent diabetes-specific stress were associated with poorer parent mental health. Overall, greater parent general stress was associated with poorer child outcomes, whereas greater parent diabetes-specific stress was associated with better child outcomes.

Conclusions: Families with high levels of general life stress should be identified as they are at risk for both poor parent and child health outcomes.

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