Weekend-Based Parent-Group Intervention to Reduce Stress in Parents of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study

Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a child is often associated with anger, denial, fear, and depression from the parents. The aim of the study was to improve parents’ adaptation to the diagnosis of diabetes of their child. Sixty-two parents (29 mothers, 33 fathers) of 36 children with type 1 diabetes (mean age=11.3‐3.3 years; diabetes duration>1 year; HbA1c=57±11 mmol/mol) participated in a three-day educational working group pilot intervention study. Intervention was based on the reexamination of the traumatic event of diagnosis of T1D through spatial and time-line anchorage, retracing of the future, emotional awareness, and interactive discussion. Relaxing technique, diaphragmatic breathing, and guided visualization were used by 2 psychologists and 1 pediatric endocrinologist. The study was approved by EC and participants filled a consent form. At baseline and after intervention, parents filled in a questionnaire including Diabetes-Related Distress (DRD), Parent Health Locus of Control Scale (PHLOC), Parent Stress Index Short Form (PSI-SF), Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-Parents (HFS-P) and Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-Parents of Young Children (HFS-P-YC), and Health Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36). Three months after the intervention, both parents reported a reduction in the “difficult child” subscale of the PSI-SF (p<0.05) and increased scores of social functioning of the SF-36 (p<0.05). DRD score was significantly reduced in mothers (p=0.03), while the “parental distress” subscale of the PSI-SF was significantly improved in fathers (p=0.03). This weekend-based parent group intervention seems to reduce stress and improve social functioning of parents of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

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Psychometric testing of the Norwegian Diabetes Health Profile (DHP-18) in patients with type 1 diabetes

BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care ◽

10.1136/bmjdrc-2018-000541 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000541

Author(s):

Lars-Petter Jelsness-Jørgensen ◽

Øystein Jensen ◽

Charlotte Gibbs ◽

Ragnar Bekkhus Moe ◽

Dag Hofsø ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Short Form ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Psychometric Testing ◽

Health Profile ◽

Sf 36

ObjectiveThe Diabetes Health Profile-18 (DHP-18) was developed to measure disease-specific health-related quality of life. It has been translated into Norwegian but remains invalidated. The purpose of this paper was to examine the psychometric properties of the Norwegian DHP-18.Research design and methodsParticipants with type 1 diabetes were recruited from three outpatient clinics in Norway. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected, and participants completed the DHP-18 and the Short-Form 36 (SF-36). Descriptive analysis, frequencies, t-tests and the chi-squared tests were used. Principal axis factoring (PAF) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used. Convergent validity was tested using Spearman’s correlation between the DHP-18 and SF-36. Reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient.ResultsIn total, 288 patients were included. No floor and ceiling effects were found. A forced PAF analysis revealed that three questions had an eigenvalue below 0.40. In the unforced PAF analysis, one question loaded below 0.40, while three questions loaded into a fourth factor. The correlation between the DHP-18 and SF-36 dimensions was low to moderate. Problematic internal consistency was observed for the disinhibited eating dimension in the forced PAF and in the suggested fourth dimension in the unforced PAF. CFA revealed poor fit. The test–retest reliability displayed good to excellent values, but responsiveness was limited.ConclusionsProblematic issues were identified regarding factor structure, item loadings, internal consistency and responsiveness. Further evaluation of responsiveness is particularly recommended, and using a revised 14-item DHP version is suggested.

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Psychological Well-Being of Carers of Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Comparison with Carers of Children without a Chronic Condition

Journal of Social Health and Diabetes ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1673741 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 06 (02) ◽

pp. 096-103 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Francesca Thomson ◽

Philip Bergman ◽

Margaret Hay

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Parenting Stress ◽

Chronic Condition ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Stress Index ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Context Caring for a child with a chronic illness requires additional responsibilities and burdens. Aims This research examined psychological well-being of carers of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). A comparison group of carers of children without a chronic condition was included to determine the specific influence T1DM has on carer well-being. Methods This cross-sectional correlational study included a sample of 93 carers of children with T1DM, and 84 comparison carers. Participants were administered the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS21), and the Parenting Stress Index Short Form 4th edition via an online questionnaire. Results Multivariate analysis revealed no significant differences between carer groups; additional univariate analyses, however, indicated that carers of children with T1DM scored significantly higher on depression and stress subscales on the DASS21, and recorded elevated anxiety scores. Conclusions Carers of children with T1DM appear to manage parenting stress; however, they may be at increased risk of depression, general stress, and anxiety.

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