The Structure of Parental Involvement and Relations to Disease Management for Youth with Type

Objective To test structural models of parental involvement in type 1 diabetes and to examine associa-tions of parental involvement with adherence and metabolic control. Methods Two hundred and fifty-two young adolescents (10–14 years) completed reports of adherence and parents ’ involvement: acceptance, inde-pendence encouragement, communication, general and diabetes-specific monitoring, frequency of help, and intrusive support. HbA1c values came from medical records. Results A model of relationship quality, behavioral involvement, and monitoring as three separate yet interrelated factors best fit the data. Higher reports of mothers ’ and fathers ’ monitoring and fathers ’ relationship quality uniquely related to better adher-ence, whereas higher reports of fathers ’ behavioral involvement uniquely related to poorer adherence. Higher reports of paternal monitoring were related to lower HbA1c. Conclusions Adolescent perceptions of components of parental involvement are interrelated, yet separate constructs for both mothers and fathers. Parental monitoring was an important predictor of management of type 1 diabetes during adolescence. Key words adherence; fathers; involvement; monitoring; mothers; parenting; young adolescents. Parental behaviors are of interest to researchers across multiple fields and disciplines. In Pediatric Psychology, parenting is critical as families deal with complex disease management (e.g., Ellis et al., 2007; Ellis, Templin