The Effect of Parental Collaboration on Diabetes Self-efficacy, Quality of Life and HbA1c Level in Adolescents Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a chronic disease that is diagnosed relatively often in childhood and adolescence. However, care and metabolic control are difficult for both adolescents and their parents. Parental participation in the care and treatment process, especially when adolescents are developing autonomy and taking responsibility for self-care, affects both the adolescent’s perception of autonomy and may cause difficulties in self-management. This study was conducted to determine the effect of parental support on adolescents’ self-efficacy, quality of life (QoL) and glycaemic control in adolescents with T1D.

Methods: This study was descriptive and cross-sectional. Descriptive questionnaires, The Collaborative Parental Involvement Scale for Adolescents with T1D, Diabetes Management Self-efficacy Scale for Adolescents with T1D and QoL Scale in Children with Diabetes Mellitus (PedsQL 3.0) were administered to 79 adolescents with T1D. Laboratory health records were examined about participants hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels measured in the last 3 months.

Results: There was no relationship between parental collaboration and adolescent’s HbA1c levels. However, there was a moderate positive relationship between parental collaboration and adolescent’s QoL (p=0.043) and a strong positive relationship between parental collaboration and adolescent’s diabetes management self-efficacy (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Adolescents who self-managed diabetes with the support of both parents, especially their fathers, who were not school absentees and had regular blood glucose measurements had better QoL. There was no relationship between HbA1c levels and parental co-operation, but there was a strong relationship between parental cooperation and adolescent self-efficacy.