Adolescents' Perceptions of Parental Roles and Involvement in Diabetes Management

This descriptive qualitative study compared how 18 teens (aged 14-16 years) with higher (n = 11; HiA1c) versus those with lower (n = 7; LoA1c) hemoglobin (Hb) A1c levels who met the standard of care viewed parental roles and involvement in diabetes management. Content analysis of the verbatim interview transcripts yielded five major themes. Teens in the LoA1c group (average HbA1c levels ≤8%) described their parents' monitoring roles more positively, whereas teens in the HiA1c group (average HbA1c levels >8%) were annoyed with reminders and described more conflict with their parents related to lack of adherence to their diabetes protocol. Clinicians need to assess the quality of parent-teen relationships and provide developmentally appropriate interventions to help teens and their parents effectively negotiate role transitions related to diabetes management during middle adolescence.