Stress and Posttraumatic Stress in Mothers of Children With Type 1 Diabetes.
Kaitlyn Rechenberg, Margaret Grey, Lois Sadler
PMID 28795899WHAT IT FOUND
Mothers of children with diabetes often had high stress and posttraumatic stress, especially early after diagnosis.
Their distress was linked to poorer child mental health and diabetes adherence. Ask about maternal support and screen after diagnosis.
Key findings
01Within 6 weeks of a child's diagnosis, approximately 51% of mothers met criteria for partial PTSD and 24% met criteria for full PTSD.
02Mothers with posttraumatic stress symptoms were more likely to have children with posttraumatic stress symptoms, and their children showed poorer adherence to treatment.
03Perceived social support networks were associated with reduced PTSD and emotional distress in mothers of children with diabetes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most included studies were cross-sectional, so they cannot show that maternal stress caused poorer child outcomes. Only 19 studies were included, and several had small samples. Long-term symptoms were studied in only two papers, so duration is uncertain. Only one intervention study tested cognitive behavioral therapy, so treatment effects are not established. Studies spanned 1990 to 2015, and diabetes care changed over that time. Non-English articles were excluded.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that treating mothers' posttraumatic stress improves children's diabetes outcomes. Most included studies were cross-sectional, and the intervention evidence was limited to one small study of maternal distress and perceptions.