Abstract
(1) Background: In the context of a child with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), the rearrangement of the family’s lifestyle can account for an increased risk of experiencing psychosocial problems for both child and parents. Those few studies on pediatric diabetes, which focused on parents’ perception of children’s psychological strengths and weaknesses, reported significantly higher rates of children’s emotional and conduct problems associated with an imbalance in the Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The main aim of this paper was to assess the role of parental perception of children’s psychosocial symptoms as a mediator of the perceived parenting stress, considering mother and father separately. (2) Methods: The study involved 12 parent couples (Mothers Mage = 40.25, SD = 6.58; Fathers Mage = 42.5, SD = 6.38) of children with T1DM aged between 7 and 11 years (Mage = 8.8, SD = 0.996). Parents completed questionnaires such as the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for parents and their perspective of their child, and the Parenting Stress Index–Short Form. (3) Results: Mothers and fathers had significant differences in the perception of their child’s internalizing symptoms. Specifically, mothers present a greater perception of the mentioned symptoms compared to fathers. Mediation models showed that only for fathers’ perception of the child conduct problems has a significant role between the fathers’ perception of dysfunctional interaction with the child and the HbA1c. (4) Conclusions: The current study provides useful evidence also for clinical settings, suggesting that an interesting interplay between parenting stress, perception of children’s symptoms and glucometabolic control should be taken into consideration.
Highlights
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases with onset in childhood worldwide [1]
Mediation models showed that only for fathers’ perception of the child conduct problems has a significant role between the fathers’ perception of dysfunctional interaction with the child and the Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). (4) Conclusions: The current study provides useful evidence for clinical settings, suggesting that an interesting interplay between parenting stress, perception of children’s symptoms and glucometabolic control should be taken into consideration
HbA1c showed both direct (β = 0.25, t = 4.53, p < 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.12, 0.38) and indirect effects on PSI_Parent–Child Dysfunctional Interaction (PSI-4-SF) as mediated through SDQ-P_Conduct Problems (β = −0.17, SE = 0.07, 95% CI = −0.29, −0.04)
Summary
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases with onset in childhood worldwide [1]. Recent epidemiological data indicates that about 20,000 Italian children and adolescents have been diagnosed with T1DM, with incidence rates increasing with age, from birth to 17 years old (3%) [2]. In Italy most of the T1DM onset usually occurs when children are between 9 and 11 years old, annual incidence rates are most rapidly increasing in preschool-aged. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 4734; doi:10.3390/ijerph17134734 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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