Supporting parents of very young children with type 1 diabetes: Results from a pilot study

Objective

To assess initial efficacy and feasibility of a telephone-based supportive intervention for parents of young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) designed to improve parental quality of life (QOL) through decreased parental stress, increased social support, and improved daily management of their child's diabetes.

Methods

The research team developed a brief program based on social cognitive theory for parents of young children with T1D. Twenty-four parents (88% mothers) of young children with T1D (ages 2-5 years) participated in a pilot study of the program and completed psychosocial questionnaires and a program satisfaction survey.

Results

Paired t-tests of pre- and post-intervention scores suggested a favorable within-group impact for the intervention group, as evidenced by decreased pediatric parenting stress and a trend for increased perceived social support. The program was well-received, with the majority of participants rating it as helpful and interesting.

Conclusion

Assisting parents with the unique challenges of diabetes management in young children through implementation of a structured intervention is promising.

Practice implications

A telephone-based intervention focused on child development, coping, and problem-solving skills has the potential to positively impact parents’ QOL and may have implications for children's health.