Health-related quality of life of preschool-aged children with type 1 diabetes in the context of family and maternal functioning. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lukács, Andrea; Bettina Zagraj, Veronika; Bartkóné Kovács, Anett; Soós, Andrea; Török, András; Barkai, László
• Is Part Of: Journal of child health care. Volume 26:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Depressive symptoms -- family functioning -- health-related quality of life -- type 1 diabetes -- young children; Pediatric nursing -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Child health services -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 618.9200231
• DOI: 10.1177/1367493521995320
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-4935

Abstract

In this study, generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) was compared to healthy peers taken in consideration of family functioning and psychological well-being of mothers. A total of 113 mothers provided data (28 mothers had a preschool-aged child with T1D). There were no significant differences in background parameters of two investigated groups. No significant differences between children with and without T1D were detected either in HRQoL or in family functioning. Moreover, mothers of children with diabetes reported lower levels of resilience and more depressive symptoms than mothers of healthy peers. In the regression analysis, mothers' depressive symptoms and the family functioning significantly affected children's HRQoL regardless of the presence of diabetes. These results suggest that parents of children with T1D handle the burden of diabetes well and integrate into the daily activities of the families. Mothers experience distress, presumably because diabetes management is burdensome; however, the family can function well and the young children can live in a similar way to their healthy peers.