Parental Psychosocial Variables and Glycemic Control in T1D Pediatric Age: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose of Review: This review aimed to summarize the evidence regarding the relationship between parental psychosocial (e.g., fear of hypoglycemia, stress and family conflict) and glycemic outcomes in children between the age of 1–10 years old. Recent Findings: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in young children can be very complex to manage for their parents since they are the main individuals responsible for T1D tasks. Also, parental psychological adjustment impacts children’s glycemic outcomes. Summary: This systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. The search process was conducted in four databases from 2019 to 2024. From a total of 215 studies, 5 were included. We identified five studies that found direct associations between parental psychosocial variables and children's glycemic outcomes. These findings suggest a unidirectional perspective, evidencing the need to examine the longitudinal interplay between these variables. In sum, promoting parental psychological interventions may be fundamental for enhancing children’s glycemic outcomes.