How do parents perceive their adolescent's diabetes: A qualitative study

Aaron E. Carroll, David G. Marrero

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background/aims: The developmental tasks of adolescence, combined with physical changes, can interfere with self-management behaviour. Yet little is known about how parents view these challenges as they attempt to help their children cope with diabetes. Our objective was to understand how living with an adolescent with diabetes influences parents' perceptions of their child's well-being, their relationship with their child, and how they perceive the influence of peers and school on their child's diabetes. Methods: Twenty-eight parents of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes, aged 13-18 years, participated in focus groups. Transcripts were analysed using qualitative methods to determine dominant themes and incidence density. Results: Themes included how diabetes negatively influences their adolescent's lifestyle, how diabetes makes it difficult for parents to understand developmental challenges experienced by their child, concerns regarding the potential to develop long-term complications, perceptions on how diabetes impacts on their relationship with their child and relationships with peers and how their children's school impacts on their diabetes self-management Conclusions: This qualitative focus group study provides insight into parental perceptions of adolescents living with Type 1 diabetes, specifically as it relates to lifestyle implications, relationships with parents, peers and physicians, and school experiences.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1222-1224
Number of pages3
JournalDiabetic Medicine
Volume23
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • Focus groups
  • Parents
  • Qualitative methods
  • Type 1 diabetes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'How do parents perceive their adolescent's diabetes: A qualitative study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this