How online peer support affects management efficacy and mitigates difficulties of parents caring for children with type 1 diabetes

The proper management of pediatric type 1 diabetes depends substantially on the parents of affected children. Parental psychological traits specifically related to diabetes caregiving influence the quality of their care and management of the disease in their children. Parents often use Facebook groups as sources of peer support and information about diabetes care. The present study aimed to examine the influence of devices used in diabetes management, ascertain the impact of Facebook peer-support groups on parental perceptions of problems and probe parental self-efficacy. 318 parents of children with type 1 diabetes completed an online questionnaire on demographics, diabetes-related data, and diabetes care-related psychological characteristics. Data analysis revealed three variables that determined competence in diabetes management: the utility of information and suggestions offered in the Facebook groups on diabetes; the form of insulin administration and membership in Facebook groups. Our results underpin that peer-support groups on social media platforms can serve as sources of the necessary information, support, and feedback on diabetes management competence for parents of children living with type 1 diabetes, they may thus facilitate parental diabetes management capabilities.