Parent–child relationships and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: Observational ratings of clinically relevant dimensions.

Abstract

An observational measure of parent-child relationships was developed based in family systems theory and used to predict the management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The new measure reliably assessed interactions between 74 parents and their school-age and adolescent children with IDDM in this multitrait, multimethod study. The observational measure predicted both ratings of adherence to treatment and biological indices of metabolic control (glycosylated hemoglobin). Diabetes was better maintained in children whose parents were more emotionally supportive, had better resolved their grief about their child's diabetes, were less sad and angry, and in parent-child dyads were better able to resolve conflicts.