Children's Roles in Parents' Diabetes Self-Management

Abstract

Background Family support is important in diabetes self-management. However, children as providers of support have received little attention. This study examines the role of children in their parents’ diabetes self-management, diet, and exercise. Methods This research used community-based participatory research principles. Researchers conducted semi-structured parallel interviews of 24 Latino and African-American adults with diabetes and with a child (age 10–17 years) in their home (2004–06). Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes (2004–07). Results Adults and children perceived that children play many roles related to adults’ diabetes self-management. Parents described children as monitoring parents’ dietary intake and reminding them what they should not be eating. Some children helped with shopping and meal preparation. Families described children reminding parents to exercise and exercising with their parent. Children reminded parents about medications and assisted with tasks such as checking blood sugar. Parents and children perceived that children played a role in tempting parents to stray from their diabetes diet, because children's diets included food that parents desired but tried to avoid. Conclusion Children and parents perceived that children have many roles in both supporting and undermining adults’ diabetes self-management. There is more to learn about the bidirectional relationships between adults and children in this setting and the most beneficial roles children can play. Health-care providers should encourage family lifestyle change, strengthen social support for families and direct children toward roles that are beneficial for both parent and child and do not place an unreasonable level of responsibility on the child.

Predictors of parent–child relationships that support physical activity in Mexican–American families

“…In a qualitative study, Latino and African-American adults with diabetes reported that their children reminded them to do PA, and would initiate joint exercise (Laroche et al, 2009). Currently, it is not clear if children are primarily motivated to encourage their parents to adopt healthy behaviors in response to ill health, or if these findings also extend to children whose parents are in good health.…”

“…This model proposes that communication about a health threat among family members, followed by a shared appraisal of that threat, may lead to cooperative action to address the health threat (Koehly & Loscalzo, 2009). One interpretation of Laroche et al (2009) finding is that children’s encouragement and co-engagement in PA with ill parents reflects a communal coping process, motivated by the families appraisal of a health threat.…”

Are Parents of Young Children Practicing Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviors?

“…Research assessing chronic disease outcomes and parenthood has shown that parents with diabetes report healthier dietary intake, more physical activity, and more consistent blood sugar monitoring compared with nonparents with diabetes. 6 Overall, there is a paucity of research related to the connection between parenthood and young adult health behaviors. In particular, there are few studies that have examined associations between parenthood and men's health behavior outcomes.…”

Effects of a self-management educational program on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes

“…The DESMOND trial (17) showed significant change in HbA1C levels in both groups with higher change in the study group (1.49% vs. 1.69%), whereas the difference between the groups was not significant after adjusting for baseline and cluster effect (P = 0.52 at 12 months). The Spanish trial (18,19), which assessed the outcome at 6 months, showed significant improvement in HbA1C levels in the study group with P value = 0.040 after controlling confounders and baseline differences using ANCOVA models. Steinsbekk et al 's (20) review study analyzed 13 studies with 1827 participants with HbA1C levels assessed at 6 months.…”