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The role of parental support for emerging adults with type 1 diabetes: A scoping review
Author(s) -
Johansen Clea Bruun,
Rothmann Mette Juel,
Andersen Anette,
BeckNielsen Henning,
Pouwer Frans
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pediatric diabetes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.678
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1399-5448
pISSN - 1399-543X
DOI - 10.1111/pedi.13022
Subject(s) - glycemic , psycinfo , thematic analysis , social support , medicine , intervention (counseling) , qualitative research , type 2 diabetes , psychological intervention , critical appraisal , clinical psychology , diabetes mellitus , gerontology , developmental psychology , medline , psychology , nursing , alternative medicine , psychotherapist , political science , law , endocrinology , social science , pathology , sociology
Background Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes often have poor diabetes self‐care and pose a considerable therapeutic challenge. They simultaneously handle a life phase characterized by instability, identity exploration, and transitions and manage a chronic illness that demands structure, self‐discipline, and repeated health care contacts. Relation to parents is often ambivalent but typically remains the most stable social support, so parental support could potentially be helpful for diabetes self‐care and wellbeing. Method This scoping review aimed to identify, summarize and analyze empirical studies (for instance interview studies, questionnaire studies and intervention studies) exploring parental support for emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Studies were identified in PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Data were extracted by one author and checked by another. Study results were synthesized by a convergent mixed methods approach and qualitative thematic analysis. Results We included 26 studies (2829 participants), 16 interview studies, 10 questionnaire studies, and no intervention studies. Five overarching themes were identified: self‐care and glycemic control, diabetes‐related emotional wellbeing, support characteristics, ambivalence and harms, and core support providers. Parents tended to contribute positively to diabetes self‐care, glycemic control, and psychological wellbeing. However, emerging adults did not want to be too dependent on their parents and family, and family could also act unsupportively; when absent, disinterested in diabetes or controlling. Conclusion This review underlines that parental support still plays a role for diabetes self‐care and wellbeing in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Age‐appropriate parental support therefore seems a promising path to investigate further.