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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Sep 1;50(9):880-886.
doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaf051.

Diabetes distress among caregivers of adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Tabitha McCarty  1 , Hailey Inverso  2 , Randi Streisand  2   3 , Sydney Garretson  1 , Emma Straton  2 , Nkemjika Okonkwo  1 , Sarah S Jaser  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Diabetes distress among caregivers of adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Tabitha McCarty et al. J Pediatr Psychol. .

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes distress (DD), the negative emotional response related to the burdens of diabetes management, has been studied primarily in adults with type 2 diabetes and youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but less is known about DD among caregivers of youth with T1D.

Methods: Caregivers of adolescents with T1D (n = 198, Mage = 45.6 ± 7.3, 84% female, 66% non-Hispanic White) were enrolled in a two-site randomized clinical trial aimed at treating DD among adolescents. The current study is a secondary analysis of baseline data to examine factors associated with DD among caregivers. Caregivers completed measures of DD, diabetes-related family conflict, and adolescents' diabetes self-management behaviors. Caregivers also reported on demographic factors, and clinical data were extracted from adolescents' medical records.

Results: Female caregivers, caregivers of younger adolescents, caregivers reporting lower household income, caregivers of lower subjective social status, and single/nonpartnered caregivers reported significantly higher caregiver DD. Further, after adjusting for demographic factors, higher diabetes-related family conflict and lower adolescent diabetes self-management behaviors were associated with significantly higher caregiver DD.

Conclusions: Correlates of caregiver DD provide insight into potential risks and modifiable factors that may help clinicians develop interventions to target caregiver DD to improve outcomes in both caregivers and adolescents with T1D.

Keywords: adolescents; caregiver functioning; diabetes; parent psychosocial functioning.

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