Frontiers in Endocrinology (Aug 2021)

Psychological Well-Being of Parents of Very Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes – Baseline Assessment

  • Carine de Beaufort,
  • Carine de Beaufort,
  • Ineke M. Pit-ten Cate,
  • Ulrike Schierloh,
  • Nathan Cohen,
  • Charlotte K. Boughton,
  • Martin Tauschmann,
  • Martin Tauschmann,
  • Martin Tauschmann,
  • Janet M. Allen,
  • Janet M. Allen,
  • Katrin Nagl,
  • Maria Fritsch,
  • Maria Fritsch,
  • James Yong,
  • Emily Metcalfe,
  • Dominique Schaeffer,
  • Muriel Fichelle,
  • Alena G. Thiele,
  • Daniela Abt,
  • Kerstin Faninger,
  • Julia K. Mader,
  • Sonja Slegtenhorst,
  • Nicole Ashcroft,
  • Malgorzata E. Wilinska,
  • Malgorzata E. Wilinska,
  • Judy Sibayan,
  • Craig Kollman,
  • Sabine E. Hofer,
  • Elke Fröhlich-Reiterer,
  • Thomas M. Kapellen,
  • Carlo L. Acerini,
  • Fiona Campbell,
  • Birgit Rami-Merhar,
  • Roman Hovorka,
  • Roman Hovorka

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.721028
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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BackgroundType 1 diabetes in young children is a heavy parental burden. As part of pilot phase of the KIDSAP01 study, we conducted a baseline assessment in parents to study the association between hypoglycemia fear, parental well-being and child behavior.MethodsAll parents were invited to fill in baseline questionnaires: hypoglycemia fear survey (HFS), WHO-5, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).Results24 children (median age: 5-year, range 1-7 years, 63% male, mean diabetes duration: 3 ± 1.7 years) participated. 23/24 parents filled out the questionnaires. We found a higher score for the hypoglycemia fear behavior 33.9 ± 5.6 compared to hypoglycemia worry 34.6 ± 12.2. Median WHO-5 score was 16 (8 - 22) with poor well-being in two parents. Median daytime sleepiness score was high in five parents (>10). For six children a high total behavioral difficulty score (>16) was reported. Pro social behavior score was lower than normal in six children (<6). Parental well-being was negatively associated with HFS total (r = - 0.50, p <.05) and subscale scores (r = - 0.44, p <.05 for HFS-Worry and HFS-Behavior), child behavior (r = - 0.45, p = .05) and positively with child age and diabetes duration (r = 0.58, p <.01, r = 0.6, p <.01). HFS, parental well-being nor daytime sleepiness are associated with the HbA1c.ConclusionRegular screening of parental well-being, hypoglycemia fear and child behavior should be part of routine care to target early intervention.

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