Cooperation between parents in caring for diabetic children: relations to metabolic control and parents' field-dependence-independence

Summary, in English

Aspects of parental interaction were assessed in 20 families with diabetic, insulin-dependent children, using hour-long video-taped interviews, the children being in optimal (O, n = 10) or poor (P, n = 10) metabolic control and showing optimal or poor psychological adaptation. In comparison with the O-group parents, the P-group parents were less appreciative of one another, were less congruent in their attitudes to diabetes care, and appeared not to respect their childrens' independence and integrity; the mothers were discontented with the support given them by their husbands; the children assumed less responsibility for managing their diabetes and seemed less confident during the interview. The results are interpreted in light of an earlier finding that the P-group fathers are more field-dependent (FD) than their wives while the opposite is true for the O-group fathers. With reference to evidence from the cognitive style literature, we suggest that the relatively FD P-group fathers have difficulties in acting as autonomous sources of support to their wives resulting in marital discord and a delayed transition from maternal to self care in their children.

• Författare: Olof Rydén; Per Johnsson; Lars Nevander; Sture Sjöblad; Lena Westbom
• Avdelning/ar: Institutionen för psykologi; Pediatrik, Lund
• Publiceringsår: 1993
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 223-229
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
• Volym: 20
• Issue: 3
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-8227(93)90082-G
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: Elsevier
• Ämne: Endocrinology and Diabetes
• Nyckelord: Family interaction; Metabolic control; Diabetes mellitus; Adolescent
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 1872-8227