Perceptions of parental acceptance-rejection in type 1 diabetic and healthy children

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to comparatively investigate the parental acceptance-rejection perceived by type 1 diabetic and healthy children and reported by their mothers. The number of studies investigating how mothers of children with chronic diseases cope with this situation is limited.

Material and Methods: The study included 52 children (aged 8-15 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus who were followed-up in an outpatient clinic of a state hospital in Gaziantep province and their mothers (n=52). A control group was formed of 52 healthy children (aged 8-15 years) who had no chronic diseases and were residents of Gaziantep province and their mothers (n=52). The perception of parental acceptance and rejection was assessed using the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ; child and mother versions).

Results: The results of this study revealed that diabetic children felt lower levels of warmth/affection and higher levels of undifferentiated rejection as compared with healthy children. In addition, the undifferentiated rejection perception of mothers of diabetic children was higher than that of mothers of healthy children. Moreover, a significant inverse correlation was found between the parental attitude perceived by diabetic children and the parental attitude perceived by their mothers.

Discussion: Diabetic children felt lower levels of warmth/affection and higher levels of undifferentiated rejection as compared with healthy children. Establishing further supportive and preventive studies within the frame of parental attitude, in particular, would enable effective management of a chronic disorder.

The outcomes of this study, which investigated acceptance-rejection attitudes of mothers of type 1 diabetic children, may contribute to establish efficient and beneficial training programs for children with chronic diseases and for their families to maintain well-being and functionality.