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Parenting a child with type 1 diabetes: Challenges and the role of social support
Melike Taşdelen Baş1, Hatice Dönmez2, Birsel Molu1
1Selçuk University Akşehir Kadir Yallagöz Health School, Department of Nursing, Konya, Türkiye.
Insights
Parents of children with Type 1 diabetes face significant challenges, particularly around hypoglycemia and injections. Strong social support from family and peers can help alleviate these concerns, improving disease management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness
- Family Support Systems
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic pediatric condition demanding intensive daily management.
- Parenting a child with T1D imposes significant emotional and practical burdens.
- Social support is crucial for parental coping mechanisms in T1D management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify challenges faced by parents of children with T1D.
- To examine the relationship between these challenges and perceived social support.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive, cross-sectional study design.
- Involved parents of children (0-18 years) diagnosed with T1D.
- Utilized "Challenges Experienced by Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes Questionnaire" and "Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support" via face-to-face surveys.
Main Results:
- Nocturnal hypoglycemia and fear of hypoglycemia were the primary parental concerns (95.8% and 94%, respectively).
- Fear of injections correlated with family support (p=.013); preventing hypoglycemia correlated with peer support (p=.035).
- Higher perceived social support was linked to reduced general disease management concerns (p=.034).
Conclusions:
- Parents of children with T1D experience substantial anxiety.
- Family, peer, and social network support offer a protective effect against T1D management challenges.
- Recommendations include strengthening social support and expanding family diabetes education programs.
Background:
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that typically develops in childhood and requires intensive daily management. This responsibility not only affects children but also places considerable emotional and practical strain on parents. Social support is thought to be a key factor in helping parents cope with these challenges.
Objective:
This study aims to identify the challenges faced by parents of children with Type 1 diabetes and to explore the relationship between these challenges and their perceived levels of social support.
Methods:
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with parents of children aged 0-18 years diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Data were collected via face-to-face surveys using the "Challenges Experienced by Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes Questionnaire" and the "Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support."
Results:
Parents reported their greatest concerns as nocturnal hypoglycemia (95.8 %) and fear of hypoglycemia (94 %). A significant association was found between parental concern over fear of injections and family support (p = .013), and between difficulty preventing hypoglycemia and peer support (p = .035). Overall, higher perceived social support was significantly related to lower general concerns about disease management (p = .034).
Conclusion:
Parents of children with Type 1 diabetes experience high levels of anxiety. Perceived support from family, peers, and social networks plays a protective role in managing these challenges. Enhancing social support systems and expanding diabetes education programs for families is strongly recommended.
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