Understanding the construct of fear of hypoglycemia in pediatric type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Objective Fear of hypoglycemia (FoH) can be a significant barrier to glycemic control in pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aimed to explore underlying constructs of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS) for parents (PHFS) and children (CHFS). Methods Data were aggregated from five studies of 259 youth with T1D and 250 parents. Exploratory Factor Analysis was used to determine the underlying factors of the CHFS and PHFS. Results Similar four-factor solutions were found for the CHFS and PHFS. Both subscales consisted of two factors: Behavior Subscale (1) behaviors used to keep blood glucose (BG) high to prevent hypoglycemia (Maintain High BG) and (2) other actions to avoid hypoglycemia (Avoidance); Worry Subscale (1) concerns about helplessness (Helplessness) and (2) negative social consequences associated with hypoglycemia (Social Consequences). Conclusions These constructs provide a more comprehensive understanding of pediatric FoH and have implications for interventions aimed at reducing FoH in this population.