Pathways from emotional adjustment to glycemic control in youths with diabetes in Hong Kong

Objective: To examine factors that influence emotional adjustment, adherenc e to diabetic care, and glycemic control in Hong Kong youths with insulin-d ependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Methods: Seventy youths, their mothers, and matched controls provided infor mation on health beliefs, authoritarian parenting style, parent-child confl ict, emotional adjustment, and adherence to medical regimen. Glycosylated h emoglobin levels were obtained to measure glycemic control. Results: Predictors explained 34% of the variance in emotional adjustment a nd 39% of the variance in glycemic control. The data supported a pathway fr om emotional adjustment to self-efficacy to adherence behaviors to glycemic control. In contrast to Western culture and consistent with prediction, pa renting style did not associate with negative outcomes, and even relatively low levels of parent-child conflict correlated negatively with emotional a djustment in this culture. Conclusions: Management of conflict and self-efficacy enhancing interaction s are suggested interventions to enhance adherence to diabetic care in Hong Kong youths with IDDM.