Parental Resilience and Physical Health in Parents of Children With Type 1 Diabetes in Northern Greece

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder in children. On the other hand, little is known regarding the health of parents whose children suffer from T1DM.

Aim: The study aims to investigate the mental resilience and physical health of parents of children with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: The sample consisted of 80 parents of children and adolescents with T1DM.The study was conducted with the contribution of associations of parents of children with type 1 diabetes in a large hospital in Northern Greece between April 2021 and September 2021. A demographic and clinical questionnaire, the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14), and the General Health 28 Physical Health Measurement Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were used to collect the research data.

Results: Of the parents, 18.8% were male while 65% were female. The mean age of the parents was 44.02±6.71 years while the age of their children with diabetes was 13.13±6.05 years. Almost half of the children followed intensive insulin treatment (47.5%) whereas 22,5% reported that their children received insulin via a pump. A higher percentage of parents reported measuring their children's blood sugar more than six times a day (46,3%) and having their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels checked four times a year (51.2%). Finally, statistically significant effects on the physical symptoms and severe depression of parents of children with type 1 diabetes were observed.

Conclusions: Additional research is needed to assess the Greek parent population's resilience and physical health. This study will help healthcare providers to expand their knowledge and meet parents' needs.