Parental Self-Control as a Moderator of the Association Between Family Conflict and Type 1 Diabetes Management

• Published in: Journal of pediatric psychology 2019-09, Vol.44 (8), p.999-1008
• Main Authors: Campbell, MaryJane S, Berg, Cynthia A, Wiebe, Deborah J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Adult; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - psychology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - therapy; Family Conflict - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Parents - psychology; Patient Compliance - psychology; Regular; Self-Control - psychology
• ISSN: 0146-8693; 1465-735X
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsz040

To examine whether parental self-control (i.e., parents' ability to regulate their emotions, cognitions, and behaviors) moderates the detrimental association between type 1 diabetes (T1D)-specific family conflict and adherence and HbA1c, such that conflict is most detrimental when parental self-control is low. One hundred and forty-nine adolescents diagnosed with T1D (Mage = 14.09; 53% female) reported on their T1D-specific conflict with their mothers and fathers and their adherence to the T1D regimen at two time points (6 months apart). Mothers and fathers reported on their self-control. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was obtained from the medical record at both time points. Higher adolescent-reported conflict with father was associated concurrently with higher HbA1c and lower adherence only for fathers with low self-control (ps < .05). Higher adolescent-reported conflict with mother was also associated concurrently with lower adherence only for mothers with lower self-control (p < .05); no significant moderation was found for mothers' self-control in predicting HbA1c. Longitudinal analyses indicated family conflict with mother predicted changes in adherence and HbA1c, but there were no significant moderating effects of either mother or father self-control. Lower parental self-control may prevent parents from handling diabetes-related family conflict in a productive manner. We discuss the implications of parental self-control as an intervention target for health care professionals working with adolescents with T1D and their families.