TRANSACTIONAL PATTERNS OF CHILD, MOTHER, AND FATHER ADJUSTMENT IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Utilized both interview and self-report methods to examine transaction al patterns of child, mother, and father adjustment in a sample of chi ldren and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Overall, levels of child and parental adjustment were relatively stab le over the 1-year study period. Regression analyses revealed that inc reases in fathers', but not mothers', distress over time contributed s ignificant incremental variance to poorer subsequent children's adjust ment, after controlling for demographic (age, gender, and SES) and dis ease parameters (illness duration and metabolic control). Decline in f athers adjustment was a significant predictor of better mothers' adjus tment at follow-up child adjustment was not significantly associated w ith mothers' adjustment. Variations in both children's and mothers' ad justment made significant, independent contributions to predicting sub sequent fathers' adjustment. Findings illustrate the transactional nat ure of relationships that exist in families of children with IDDM and underscore the importance of family systems or biobehavioral family tr eatment approaches in the clinical management of children with chronic illnesses.