Paediatric Type1 Diabetes Management and Mothers' Emotional Intelligence Interactions.

Jolanta Žilinskienė,Dalia Antinienė,Linas Šumskas

doi:10.3390/ijerph18063117

Abstract

The functioning of the parents’ emotional sphere is very important to a child’s mental and physical health. This study focused on investigating the association between mothers’ emotional intelligence (EI) and paediatric type I diabetes (T1DM) disease management in their children. We hypothesized that mothers’ EI is associated with T1DM outcomes. Mothers of children with T1DM aged 6–12 years were surveyed. One hundred and thirty-four mothers, the main caregivers of their diabetic children, provided measures of EI and completed a demographic questionnaire. The primary indicator of diabetes management was haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c; the main form of glycosylated haemoglobin). EI scales and subscales were associated with glycaemic management indices. Logistic regression analysis was applied for the assessment of the association between parents’ EI and their paediatric with T1DM disease management. The analysis demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between T1DM management and mothers’ ability to understand and control own emotions, to transform their own negative emotions into positive and to control own negative emotions. Mothers’ EI scales and subscales of understanding and regulating their own emotions, subscales of transforming their own negative emotions into positive ones and controlling their own negative emotions were statistically reliable predictors of glycaemic control in children with T1DM.

Highlights

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a lifelong metabolic disorder, typically arising in childhood and adolescence
Insulin administration and the treatment of low blood glucose are essential for children with T1DM during the day, the need for assistance varies across age groups [2]
The same tendencies were observed with the subscales of understanding the causality of own emotions, transforming negative emotions into positive ones and controlling own negative emotions

Summary

Introduction

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a lifelong metabolic disorder, typically arising in childhood and adolescence. Approximately 80,000 children develop type 1 diabetes (T1DM) worldwide [1]. Every year in Lithuania, more than 100 children are diagnosed with T1DM diabetes. Diabetes management requires significant involvement of medical/health and financial resources as well as proper parenting involvement. Insulin administration and the treatment of low blood glucose are essential for children with T1DM during the day, the need for assistance varies across age groups [2]. Current clinical care guidelines recommend that parents assume the majority of daily diabetes self-care during [3]. Insufficient T1DM management can lead to serious short- and long-term complications and premature death [3]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion