Maternal management behaviors for young children with type 1 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the process that mothers raising young (0-4 years old) children who are newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes move through to attain the necessary skills to care for their children.


METHODS
A mixed methods design was used, including qualitative interviews with 28 mothers of young children with type 1 diabetes. Principles of naturalistic inquiry were used to guide the data collection process, management, and analysis of the qualitative findings.


RESULTS
The process paralleled two of three management approaches and associated behaviors previously described by Gallo and Knafl. Strict adherence behaviors included rigidly following the team recommendations and avoiding strange environments outside the home. Flexible adherence behaviors strove to bring spontaneity back into family life. Selective adherence was not used by this population.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses working with these mothers can provide information and support to help them transition from using strict adherence to the more user-friendly flexible adherence, while avoiding the pitfalls of the possibly harmful third approach of selective adherence. Nurses need to remember to praise the parents' efforts at managing their children's diabetes, for our acknowledgment of their work is empowering and affirming.
Sullivan-Bolyai
Susan
S
Graduate School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts-Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655-0002, USA. susan.sullivan-bolyai@umassmed.edu
Knafl
Kathleen
K
Deatrick
Janet
J
Grey
Margaret
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires