Physician Recommendations About Maternal Involvement in Adolescent Diabetes Management

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to examine whether perceptions of physician recommendations about maternal involvement in adolescent diabetes management are associated with children's reports of mothers’ involvement during the subsequent week. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Youth with type 1 diabetes (aged 10–15 years) and mothers completed scales measuring perceptions of physician recommendations about maternal involvement. At their appointment, and again 1 week later, children reported mothers’ involvement in diabetes over the preceding week. RESULTS—A total of 53 dyads provided usable data at both time points. Perceived recommendations to increase involvement were associated with children's reports of increased maternal collaboration during the subsequent week (B = 0.81, P < 0.05), an effect that was stronger among boys (B = −1.21, P < 0.005). Increased maternal collaboration correlated with better A1C (r = −0.39, P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS—Physicians may facilitate adaptive forms of maternal involvement during adolescence by conveying messages about involvement to patients and families.