Parental levels of stress managing a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Riyadh: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: Caring for a child with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) pose a significant burden on parents especially when they struggle with their child’s T1D management. The experience of not coping or struggling to cope increases the level of stress in parents, which may adversely affect their child’s diabetic control (Al Dubayee et al, Horm Res Paediatr 88:2019). In this study, we assessed the level of stress parents experience in caring for a child diagnosed with T1D in four different domains. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in two specialized diabetic centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from February to May 2015 (Al Dubayee et al, Horm Res Paediatr 88:2019). We used an Arabic translation of the validated Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) questionnaire. The frequency and perceived difficulty of stressful events were rated by interviewing parents caring for children with T1D using two 5-point Likert scales. RESULTS: The sample realized as 390 parents. The level of stress increased in separated and unemployed parents. The frequency (mean 64.9/210, SD 7.529) and difficulty (mean 65.3/210, SD 9.448) indices of the parental level of stress were compared with variables possibly associated with stress. Both of the frequency difficulty indices correlated with the marital status, the father’s level of education and occupation as well as HbA1c level (P-value < 0.05). In addition, the frequency index correlated with the frequency of hypoglycemia and the difficulty index correlated with the number of children in the family (P-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Parents of children with T1D in Riyadh experience a significant level of stress that may affect the child’s glycemic control (Al Dubayee et al, Horm Res Paediatr 88:2019). Assessing the level of stress and providing support for these families has the potential to improve the clinical outcome.