Hurşit FERAHKAYA, Elif Nur YAŞAR
Archives of Current Medical Research - 2026;7(2):445-454
Background: Parental attitudes and feeding behaviors are considered important factors associated with self-management skills and metabolic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, there are different views on this role in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the associations between parental attitudes, children's eating behaviors, and HbA1c levels in youth diagnosed with T1D. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 105 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years diagnosed with T1D for at least six months and followed at a pediatric endocrinology clinic. Parental attitudes were assessed using the Parent Attitude Scale (PAS) and eating behaviors using the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Analyses were performed by dividing the participants into three groups according to their HbA1c levels (<7.5, 7.5-9.0, >9.0). Results: Parents of children in the <7.5 HbA1c group had significantly higher Autonomy scores compared with those in the >9.0 group (p = 0.031). The "Desire to Drink" score was significantly higher in the 7.5-9.0 and >9.0 groups compared with the <7.5 group (p = 0.014). HbA1c levels showed negative correlations with PAS Acceptance/Interest and Autonomy scores, and a positive correlation with the CEBQ Desire to Drink subscale. Additionally, Acceptance/Interest was negatively correlated with Emotional Overeating. Conclusion: Lower parental autonomy support and increased desire for sweetened beverages were associated with poorer metabolic control in children with T1D. These findings suggest that supportive and autonomy-promoting parenting practices, as well as beverage-related eating behaviors, may be relevant clinical targets in routine T1D care. Family-based psychoeducation and structured parental guidance may therefore be considered as potentially useful components of comprehensive diabetes management.
