The present study examined whether aspects of maternal parenting style are associated with adolescent well - being in the
context of diabetes management.
Although biological and social changes in youths impact glycemic control in direct and in indirect ways (10), the
demands of diabetes management can promote negative feelings in family members.
Furthermore, the
complexities of diabetes management require ongoing parental involvement in care throughout childhood with developmentally appropriate family teamwork between the growing child / teen and parent in order to maintain adherence and to prevent deterioration in glycemic control (14,15).
The Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre promotes positive
integration of diabetes management into the daily life of children, adolescents and young adults and their families.
Implications for clinical and medical practice suggest that, in the potentially stressful family
context of diabetes management, adolescents» perceptions of maternal acceptance may provide an important buffer that supports adolescent well - being.
If such a coercive cycle becomes associated with the
demands of diabetes management, it is likely to interfere with the youth's adherence to their treatment regimen, resulting in worsened glycemic control.
Finally, SES is a complex construct, and the combination of neighborhood income and parental education may not capture the nuances of SES in the context
of diabetes management.
Specifically, as immigrant Latino families become acculturated to U.S. culture, parental control and parent — adolescent conflict might decrease.1 Future research examining dimensions of parenting simultaneously (e.g., levels of acceptance considered combined with levels of control and conflict) and the effect of acculturation on these associations would contribute to our understanding of cultural aspects of parenting in the context
of diabetes management.
In the context
of diabetes management, research has shown that Latino parents report greater supervision of their children's diabetes regimen adherence (Gallegos - Macias, Macias, Kaufman, Skipper, & Kalishman, 2003), and parental support for diabetes care is associated with better diabetes outcomes among Latino youth (Hsin, La Greca, Valenzuela, Moine, & Delamater, 2010).
Questions assess five areas
of diabetes management, including: insulin administration / dose adjustment, blood - glucose monitoring, exercise, diet, and management of hypoglycemia.