Paediatric parenting stress in fathers and mothers of young children with Type 1 diabetes: a longitudinal study. Issue 6 (13th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nieuwesteeg, A.; Hartman, E.; Emons, W.; van Bakel, H.; Aanstoot, H.‐J.; van Mil, E.; Pouwer, F.
• Is Part Of: Diabetic medicine. Volume 34:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 821
• Page End: 827
• Publication Date: 2017-03-13
• Subjects: Diabetes -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1111/dme.13300
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0742-3071

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: To compare levels of paediatric parenting stress in the fathers and mothers of young children with Type 1 diabetes and study the variation in this stress over time. Methods: One hundred and twelve parents (56 mothers and 56 fathers) of young children (0–7 years) with Type 1 diabetes participated in this study. They completed the Pediatric Inventory for Parents to assess paediatric parenting stress ( frequency and difficulty scores on the Communication, Emotional Distress, Medical Care and Role Functioning subscales and Total Score); 44 mothers (79%) and 31 fathers (55%) completed the questionnaire again, 1 year later. Independent and paired sample t ‐tests were used to examine the differences between fathers and mothers and the changes over time. Cohen's d effect sizes were also calculated. Results: Mothers scored significantly higher than fathers on the stress subscales for Communication frequency and difficulty, Emotional Distress frequency and difficulty, Medical Care frequency and Total Score frequency and difficulty ( d ranged from −0.44 to −0.56). Furthermore, fathers reported a decrease in Medical Care frequency ( d = 0.10) and an increase in Emotional Distress difficulty ( d = −0.32) and Total Score difficulty ( d = −0.29), whereas mothers reported a decrease in Emotional Distress frequency, Medical Care frequency and Total Score frequency ( d ranged from 0.31 to 0.66) over a 1‐year period. Conclusions: These results show that within families with a young child with Type 1 diabetes, the burden of care increases in fathers and decreases in mothers, suggesting that fathers assume more responsibility for care of their child with Type 1 diabetes as the child grows. What's new?: There is a lack of information about the differences in parenting stress between mothers and fathers of young children with Type 1 diabetes. Mothers reported higher levels of paediatric parenting stress than fathers. However, over a 1‐year period, the burden of care increased in fathers and decreased in mothers, suggesting an increased care responsibility for fathers when their child with Type 1 diabetes grows up. With this information, healthcare providers can assist with lowering the levels of parenting stress, or providing a support programme for parents, which could enhance the quality of life (of their children).