The effects of parental depression and parenting practices on depressive symptoms and metabolic control in urban youth with insulin dependent diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Examine relationships between parental depressive symptoms, affective and instrumental parenting practices, youth depressive symptoms and glycemic control in a diverse, urban sample of adolescents with diabetes.


METHODS
Sixty-one parents and youth aged 10-17 completed self-report questionnaires. HbA1c assays were obtained to assess metabolic control. Path analysis was used to test a model where parenting variables mediated the relationship between parental and youth depressive symptoms and had effects on metabolic control.


RESULTS
Parental depressive symptoms had a significant indirect effect on youth depressive symptoms through parental involvement. Youth depressive symptoms were significantly related to metabolic control. While instrumental aspects of parenting such as monitoring or discipline were unrelated to youth depressive symptoms, parental depression had a significant indirect effect on metabolic control through parental monitoring.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of parental depressive symptoms influences both youth depression and poor metabolic control through problematic parenting practices such as low involvement and monitoring.
Eckshtain
Dikla
D
Judge Baker Children's Center, Harvard Medical School, 53 Parker Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02120-3225, USA. deckshtain@jbcc.harvard.edu
Ellis
Deborah A
DA
Kolmodin
Karen
K
Naar-King
Sylvie
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin