Models of diabetes management in children emphasize family relationships, particularly parent–child interactions. In adolescents,
parental involvement in disease-specific management relates to better health and adherence. However, information about parental
involvement in disease management for young children is limited and mixed. This study investigated behavior problems of school-aged
children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) in association with parent discipline strategies and parents’ perceptions of
(1) time spent managing diabetes and (2) the impact their child’s diabetes has on their discipline strategies. Parents of
children ages 5–12 with T1DM completed standardized measures of child misbehavior, parent discipline strategies, and responded
to questions regarding perceived time spent managing diabetes, and perceived impact of diabetes on ability to discipline.
Results showed child mealtime misbehavior was common and associated with overreactive parental discipline. Further, overreactive
discipline was also associated with reports of less time spent managing child’s illness. Child misbehavior was positively
associated with parents’ perceived amount of time spent managing diabetes and with the impact of child diabetes on discipline.
Findings suggest the importance of considering parent discipline strategies and child misbehavior when working with young
children with diabetes.
Keywords Parenting - Discipline - Illness management - Diabetes