From caregiver psychological distress to adolescent glycemic control: The mediating role of perceived burden around diabetes management

Natoshia Raishevich Cunningham, Anthony T. Vesco, Lawrence M. Dolan, Korey K. Hood

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether perceived caregiver burden around diabetes management mediated the relationship between caregivers' psychological distress and adolescents' glycemic control. Methods: Across three visits spanning 9 months, caregivers of 147 adolescents with type 1 diabetes completed measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms and a measure of perceived burden specific to diabetes management. Adolescents' glycemic control was also measured. Results: Perceived burden mediated the relationship between caregiver depressive symptoms and adolescents' glycemic control. The overall model was significant, F(10,132) = 5.0, p <. 001, R2 = 0.27. Fifty percent of the relationship was explained by diabetes-specific burden. The relationship between caregiver anxiety symptoms and adolescent glycemic control was partially mediated by diabetes-specific burden, F(10,133) = 5.7, p <. 001, R2 = 0.30, explaining 26% of this relationship. Discussion: A variable linking caregiver psychological distress to adolescent glycemic control is perceived caregiver burden around diabetes management. Implications for clinical practice include targeting caregiver psychological functioning and reducing global and diabetes-specific distress.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)196-205
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of pediatric psychology
Volume36
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011

Keywords

  • adolescents
  • diabetes
  • health care services
  • parents

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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