Roles of Emotional Autonomy, Problem-Solving Ability and Parent-Adolescent Relationships on Self-Management of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND

High emotional autonomy has a negative association, whereas good problem-solving ability and parent-adolescent relationships have positive association with self-management in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Exploring roles of these variables is crucial to design specific interventions to improve self-management in such afflicted adolescents.

PURPOSE: To explore the roles of emotional autonomy, problem-solving ability and parent-adolescent relationships on self-management in adolescents with T1D.

DESIGN AND

METHODS

Cross-sectional design was used in this study. A total of 242 adolescents with T1D were recruited from an outpatient clinic of a medical center by convenience sampling in Taiwan. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect personal characteristics, self-management, emotional autonomy, problem-solving ability, and parent-adolescent relationships.

RESULTS

Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that body mass index, problem-solving ability, father-adolescent relationship, and emotional autonomy were significant factors associated with self-management. The interactions of emotional autonomy with problem-solving ability and with parent-adolescents relationship were not significantly associated with self-management. The overall model explained 47.5% variance of self-management.

CONCLUSIONS

High emotional autonomy was significantly associated with poor self-management. Problem-solving ability and father-adolescent relationships could not moderate, but were independently and significantly associated with self-management in adolescents with T1D.

PRACTICE IMPLICATION: Healthcare providers should evaluate emotional autonomy earlier and provide more timely help to reduce any negative impact on self-management in adolescents with T1D. Improving problem-solving ability and encouraging fathers to develop optimal father-adolescents relationship might be promising strategies to enhance self-management in adolescents with T1D.