Fear of hypoglycemia, parenting stress, and metabolic control in children with type 1 diabetes
Parents of children with type 1 diabetes often live with constant anxiety about hypoglycemic episodes. This study examines how fear of hypoglycemia relates to parenting stress and to the child’s metabolic control, providing insight into the psychological burden on families managing a chronic paediatric condition. Relevant for clinicians working at the intersection of paediatric health and family psychology.
Abstract
This study sets out to extend current knowledge of parenting stress and fear of hypoglycemia (FoH) in parents of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We examined if the relationship between parental and children’s FoH and metabolic control, as reflected by HbA1c, is mediated by parenting stress. A total of 63 parents and children with T1DM were recruited during their routine physician’s appointment. Parents completed questionnaires on parenting stress and FoH. Children eight years and older also completed a questionnaire on FoH. HbA1c values were obtained from all children. Mediation analysis revealed an indirect association between parental FoH and HbA1c values through parenting stress (Sobel’s z = 2. 42, p = . 02), but no indirect association between children’s FoH and HbA1c.
We concluded that parental FOH has an indirect association with the child’s metabolic control that is mediated by parenting stress. More simply, fear of hypoglycemia predicts parent stress, which in turn, predicts metabolic control.
Keywords: type 1 diabetes, fear of hypoglycemia, parenting stress, metabolic control, paediatric, family psychology
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Reference
Viaene, A. S., Van Daele, T., Bleys, D., Faust, K., & Massa, G. G. (2017). Fear of hypoglycemia, parenting stress, and metabolic control for children with type 1 diabetes and their parents. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 24(1), 74–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-017-9489-8