Maternal Health-Related Coping Patterns and Health and Adjustment Outcomes in Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Parental coping patterns can influence health outcomes of a child with a chronic illness. As part of a longitudinal study of 8- to 13-year-old children with newly diagnosed diabetes, we examined the relation between maternal health-related coping strategies and rehospitalizations and psychopathology in the child with diabetes. Forty-two pairs of children and their mothers were evaluated separately by means of a comprehensive assessment battery including a semistructured psychiatric interview, self-rated questionnaires, and overall diabetes course and management. Although results of this study suggest that mothers' coping patterns have no detectable impact on short-term health outcomes of children with diabetes, mothers considered maintaining family integration and understanding the medical situation as very helpful coping strategies. Suggestions for research using a longer follow-up period and implications for health care providers are discussed.