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. 2016 Aug;41(7):750-8.
doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsw002. Epub 2016 Feb 10.

Understanding the Areas and Correlates of Diabetes-Related Distress in Parents of Teens With Type 1 Diabetes

Danielle Hessler  1 , Lawrence Fisher  1 , William Polonsky  2 , Nicole Johnson  3
Affiliations

Understanding the Areas and Correlates of Diabetes-Related Distress in Parents of Teens With Type 1 Diabetes

Danielle Hessler et al. J Pediatr Psychol. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To identify the unique areas of diabetes-related distress (DD) for parents of teens with type 1 diabetes and parent and teen characteristics associated with DD.

Methods: Areas of DD were developed from structured interviews and translated into 46 survey items. Items were analyzed with exploratory factor analysis (EFA).

Results: An EFA with 332 parents (88% mothers) reduced items to four Parent Diabetes Distress Scale (PDDS) factors (20 items, α = .94): Personal, Teen Management, Parent/Teen Relationship, and Healthcare Team Distress. Parent DD was higher among fathers, younger or single parents, parents of teens with higher hemoglobin A1c or severe low blood glucose levels, authoritarian parenting, depressive symptoms, and low emotional support.

Conclusions: 4 areas of parent DD were identified using a newly developed measure, the PDDS. DD was associated with family demographic, teen diabetes status, and parent contextual factors, and can help identify parents who may be more vulnerable to DD.

Keywords: Adolescents; diabetes; parent stress; parenting style; parent–adolescent communication; psychosocial functioning.

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