Parenting and Treatment Adherence in Type 1 Diabetes Throughout Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood

Objective To examine the role of diabetes-specific parental regulation and general parenting dimensions (responsiveness and psychological control) in treatment adherence throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood. Methods A total of 521 patients (aged 14-25 years) with Type 1 diabetes, 407 mothers, and 345 fathers were included. Analyses within and across informants examined the associations between the parenting variables and treatment adherence (and potential moderation effects in these associations). Results Lower psychological control and higher parental responsiveness were associated with better treatment adherence. Diabetes-specific parental regulation was not linked to treatment adherence, except when combined with high levels of responsiveness. Some effects of psychological control and responsiveness were more pronounced in the older age-group. Conclusions Researchers and clinicians should remain attentive to the potential role of parenting for treatment adherence, even in emerging adult patients. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved.