Parental self-control as a moderator of the association between family conflict and type 1 diabetes management

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether parental self-control (i.e., parents' ability to regulate their emotions, cognitions, and behaviors) moderates the detrimental association between type 1 diabetes (T1D)-specific family conflict and adherence and glycemic control, such that conflict is most detrimental when parental selfcontrol is low. One hundred and forty-nine adolescents diagnosed with T1D (M age = 14.09; 53% female) reported on their T1D-specific conflict with their mothers and fathers and their adherence to the T1D regimen at two time points. Mothers and fathers reported on their self-control. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was obtained from the medical record at both time points. Higher adolescent-reported conflict with fathers was associated with higher (worse) HbA1c and lower adherence only for fathers with low self-control (ps < .05). Higher adolescent-reported conflict with mothers was also associated with lower adherence only for mothers with lower self-control (p < .05); no significant moderation was found for mothers' self-control in predicting HbA1c. Longitudinal analyses did not yield significant moderating effects of either mother or father self-control; family conflict with mother was the only significant predictor of changes in adherence and HbA1c. Parental self-control is an important resource that may allow parents to better handle diabetes-related family conflict around diabetes management tasks. We discuss the iv implications of parent self-control as an intervention target for health care professionals working with adolescents with T1D and their families.