PARENTING SATISFACTION AND EFFICACY AMONG CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITHDIABETES

This study assessed parenting satisfaction and efficacy in 53 parents of children with diabetes and 39 parents of physically healthy childre n. In addition, the relationship between parenting self-esteem and per ceptions of child behavior, child age, disease duration, and metabolic control were examined. Parents of children with diabetes reported sig nificantly lower levels of parenting satisfaction and efficacy compare d to parents of healthy children, and their negative parental cognitio ns are most influenced by perceptions of more internalizing child prob lems, shorter diabetes duration, and poorer metabolic control. Parenti ng self-esteem was significantly inversely correlated with both intern alizing and externalizing child behavior problems for parents of healt hy children. The clinical implications of poor parental cognitions and directions for future research are highlighted.