Mindfulness, Psychological Flexibility, Parenting and T1D Outcomes V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The relationship between mindfulness, psychological flexibility, perceived parental control and diabetes-related outcomes in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
IRAS ID
167003
Contact name
Lorraine Lockhart
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 2 days
Research summary
Evidence suggests that adolescents living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) who perceive their parents to be controlling more often report poorer treatment adherence and health related quality of life. However the processes underlying this relationship are as yet unclear. The current study extends the current literature by investigating if the constructs of mindfulness and psychological flexibility may influence this relationship. Mindfulness refers to a person’s ability to pay attention to internal events, such as thoughts and feelings, in the present moment. Psychological flexibility widens this construct to include the ability to stay present with these events rather than acting with the purpose of avoiding them. Recent evidence has shown that an adolescent’s psychological flexibility and mindfulness are related to their perception of parental control, health behaviours and health related quality of life.
The study will invite young people aged 12 – 18 years who attend outpatient diabetes clinics in 8 health boards across Scotland, and their parent, to participate in the study. Young people will initially be approached by their diabetes nurse to explain the study. Young people and parents will be asked to complete questionnaires while at their outpatient clinic. The questionnaires will measure the young person’s and parent’s tendency to be mindful and their psychological flexibility. Questionnaires will also measure the young person’s perception of how controlling their parent is, their adherence to their diabetes treatment and their diabetes related quality of life. Parents will also be asked to complete a demographic questionnaire. The information provided by young people and parents will then be analysed to better understand the relationships between the study variables.
It is hoped this research may lead to the identification of psychological interventions that may improve outcomes for adolescents living with diabetes including treatment adherence, glyceamic control, family relationships and health related quality of life.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
15/NI/0052
Date of REC Opinion
26 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion