PARENT-ADOLESCENT COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT FOR DIABETES MANAGEMENT AS REPORTED BY ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES

This study examined parental involvement in terms of communication and support and these variables in relationship to diabetes management responsibility and metabolic control from the perspective of adolescents. The sample consisted of 27 adolescents who were 12 to 19 years of age (M=15.0 years, SD=1.9) and had type 1 diabetes. Participants completed Independent Functioning, Independent Decision Making, Parent-Adolescent Communication, and Parental Support Checklists. Adolescents reported relatively high level of communication with parents and relatively low level of parental support. These adolescents reported more agreement than amount of communication with parents and reported more parental support received than sought. Although not significantly different, the means for amount of communication and agreement decreased from early to middle to late adolescence and the means for seeking and receiving support increased from early to middle and then decreased from middle to late adolescence. When working with parents and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, health care professionals need to be cognizant of adolescents' view of specific ways that parents are involved and the developmental influences on parent-adolescent relationships.