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

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.

Keywords

type 1 diabetes mellitus - carer psychological well-being - comparison group

• References

• 1 Wennick A, Hallström I. Swedish families' lived experience when a child is first diagnosed as having insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: an ongoing learning process. J Fam Nurs 2006; 12 (04) 368-389
• 2 Buckloh LM, Lochrie AS, Antal H. et al. Diabetes complications in youth: qualitative analysis of parents' perspectives of family learning and knowledge.. Diabetes Care 2008; 31 (08) 1516-1520
• 3 Lowes L, Lyne P, Gregory JW. Childhood diabetes: parents' experience of home management and the first year following diagnosis. Diabet Med 2004; 21 (06) 531-538
• 4 Sullivan-Bolyai S, Rosenberg R, Bayard M. Fathers' reflections on parenting young children with type 1 diabetes. MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs 2006; 31 (01) 24-31
• 5 Lowes L, Gregory JW, Lyne P. Newly diagnosed childhood diabetes: a psychosocial transition for parents?. J Adv Nurs 2005; 50 (03) 253-261
• 6 Northam E, Anderson P, Adler R, Werther G, Warne G. Psychosocial and family functioning in children with insulin-dependent diabetes at diagnosis and one year later. J Pediatr Psychol 1996; 21 (05) 699-717
• 7 Clarke WL, Gonder-Frederick A, Snyder AL, Cox DJ. Maternal fear of hypoglycemia in their children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 1998; 11 (Suppl. 01) 189-194
• 8 Marrero DG, Guare JC, Vandagriff JL, Fineberg NS. Fear of hypoglycemia in the parents of children and adolescents with diabetes: maladaptive or healthy response?. Diabetes Educ 1997; 23 (03) 281-286
• 9 Sullivan-Bolyai S, Deatrick J, Gruppuso P, Tamborlane W, Grey M. Constant vigilance: mothers' work parenting young children with type 1 diabetes. J Pediatr Nurs 2003; 18 (01) 21-29
• 10 Sullivan-Bolyai S, Deatrick J, Gruppuso P, Tamborlane W, Grey M. Mothers' experiences raising young children with type 1 diabetes. J Spec Pediatr Nurs 2002; 7 (03) 93-103
• 11 Mellin AE, Neumark-Sztainer D, Patterson JM. Parenting adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes: parents' perspectives. J Pediatr Psychol 2004; 29 (03) 221-230
• 12 Marshall M, Carter B, Rose K, Brotherton A. Living with type 1 diabetes: perceptions of children and their parents. J Clin Nurs 2009; 18 (12) 1703-1710
• 13 Bowes S, Lowes L, Warner J, Gregory JW. Chronic sorrow in parents of children with type 1 diabetes. J Adv Nurs 2009; 65 (05) 992-1000
• 14 Whittemore R, Jaser S, Chao A, Jang M, Grey M. Psychological experience of parents of children with type 1 diabetes: a systematic mixed-studies review. Diabetes Educ 2012; 38 (04) 562-579
• 15 Powers SW, Byars KC, Mitchell MJ, Patton SR, Standiford DA, Dolan LM. Parent report of mealtime behavior and parenting stress in young children with type 1 diabetes and in healthy control subjects. Diabetes Care 2002; 25 (02) 313-318
• 16 Rodrigue JR, Geffken GR, Clark JE, Hunt F, Fishel P. Parenting satisfaction and efficacy among caregivers of children with diabetes. Child Health Care 1994; 23 (03) 181-191
• 17 Maas-van Schaaijk NM, Roeleveld-Versteegh AB, van Baar AL. The interrelationships among paternal and maternal parenting stress, metabolic control, and depressive symptoms in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr Psychol 2013; 38 (01) 30-40
• 18 Müller-Godeffroy E, Treichel S, Wagner VM. German Working Group for Paediatric Pump Therapy. Investigation of quality of life and family burden issues during insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus—a large-scale multicentre pilot study. Diabet Med 2009; 26 (05) 493-501
• 19 Lovibond SH, Lovibond PF. Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. 2nd edition. Sydney: Psychology Foundation; 1995
• 20 Abidin RR. Manual for the Parenting Stress Index. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources; 1995
• 21 Cochrane JJ, Goering PN, Rogers JM. The mental health of informal caregivers in Ontario: an epidemiological survey. Am J Public Health 1997; 87 (12) 2002-2007
• 22 Rewers MJ, Pillay K, de Beaufort C. et al International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes. ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines 2014. Assessment and monitoring of glycemic control in children and adolescents with diabetes.. Pediatr Diabetes 2014; 15 (Suppl. 20) 102-114
• 23 Pallant J. A Step by Step Guide to Data Analysis Using the SPSS Program. SPSS Survival Manual, 4th edition. New South Wales, Australia: Allen and Unwin Books; 2010
• 24 Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS. Using Multivariate Statistics, 5th edition. Needham Height, MA: Allyn & Bacon; 2007
• 25 Stallwood L. Influence of caregiver stress and coping on glycemic control of young children with diabetes. J Pediatr Health Care 2005; 19 (05) 293-300
• 26 Duis SS, Summer M, Summers CR. Parent versus child stress in diverse family types an ecological approach. Top Early Child Spec Educ 1997; 1 (07) 7-53
• 27 Turner-Henson A, Holaday B, Swan JH. When parenting becomes caregiving: caring for the chronically ill child. Fam Community Health 1992; 1 (05) 5-19
• 28 Kuhlthau KA, Perrin JM. Child health status and parental employment. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001; 155 (12) 1346-1350
• 29 Quittner AL, Opipari LC, Espelage DL, Carter B, Eid N, Eigen H. Role strain in couples with and without a child with a chronic illness: associations with marital satisfaction, intimacy, and daily mood. Health Psychol 1998; 17 (02) 112-124
• 30 Streisand R, Braniecki S, Tercyak KP, Kazak AE. Childhood illness-related parenting stress: the pediatric inventory for parents. J Pediatr Psychol 2001; 26 (03) 155-162
• 31 Hatton DL, Canam C, Thorne S, Hughes AM. Parents' perceptions of caring for an infant or toddler with diabetes. J Adv Nurs 1995; 22 (03) 569-577
• 32 Hilliard ME, Monaghan M, Cogen FR, Streisand R. Parent stress and child behaviour among young children with type 1 diabetes. Child Care Health Dev 2011; 37 (02) 224-232
• 33 Grey M, Whittemore R, Ambrosino JM, Lindemann E, Grey M. Coping and psychosocial adjustment in mothers of young children with type 1 diabetes. Child Health Care 2009; 38 (02) 91-106
• 34 Streisand R, Mackey ER, Elliot BM. et al. Parental anxiety and depression associated with caring for a child newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes: opportunities for education and counseling. Patient Educ Couns 2008; 73 (02) 333-338
• 35 Lowes L, Eddy D, Channon S, McNamara R, Robling M, Gregory JW. DEPICTED study team. The experience of living with type 1 diabetes and attending clinic from the perception of children, adolescents and carers: analysis of qualitative data from the DEPICTED study. J Pediatr Nurs 2015; 30 (01) 54-62
• 36 Ones K, Yilmaz E, Cetinkaya B, Caglar N. Assessment of the quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy (primary caregivers). Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2005; 19 (03) 232-237