title: Mealtime behavior and diabetes-specific parent functioning in young children with type 1 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Management of meals and mealtime behavior is often challenging for parents of young children with Type 1 diabetes. Parent functioning related to diabetes care may directly affect mealtime behaviors and glycemic control. This study evaluated associations among diabetes-specific parent functioning, parent and child mealtime behaviors, and glycemic control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of young children with Type 1 diabetes (n = 134) completed self-report measures assessing diabetes-specific functioning (hypoglycemia fear, diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes-related quality of life) and child and parent mealtime behaviors. Hemoglobin A1c and percentage of blood glucose values out of range (<70 mg/dL or >200 mg/dL) over a 30-day period were abstracted from medical charts as indicators of glycemic control. Structural equation modeling was utilized to evaluate predictors and related outcomes of child and parent mealtime behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proposed model fit the data very well. More frequent problematic child mealtime behaviors were associated with poorer glycemic control; however, more frequent problematic parent mealtime behaviors were marginally associated with better glycemic control. Poorer diabetes-specific parent functioning was associated with more frequent problematic child and parent mealtime behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Problematic child mealtime behaviors, such as disruptive behavior, present a significant risk for poorer glycemic control. Parents may engage in ineffective mealtime management strategies in an effort to meet glycemic recommendations and avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Future research will help to determine whether parents may benefit from specific, developmentally appropriate behavioral strategies to manage meals and snacks and promote optimal diabetes management.
authors: Children's National Health System.
authors: Maureen
authors: M
authors: Monaghan
authors: Children's National Health System.
authors: Linda Jones
authors: LJ
authors: Herbert
authors: Children's National Health System.
authors: Jichuan
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Virginia Commonwealth University.
authors: Clarissa
authors: C
authors: Holmes
authors: Children's National Health System.
authors: Fran R
authors: FR
authors: Cogen
authors: Children's National Health System.
authors: Randi
authors: R
authors: Streisand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult