Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Burden Among and Beyond Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Family Perspective

Introduction Type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents is a challenging situation for everyone involved. Given that previous research has focused primarily on patients, the impact on their family members is relatively underexplored. In this context, we aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial burden of both minor patients and their families. Methods This study involved 151 children/adolescents with type 1 diabetes and family members of such patients, both living in Greece. We applied a combined e-questionnaire including demographic and clinical data, psychological burden data as reflected by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21), and HRQoL data as reflected by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. Results Regarding psychological burden, our study revealed mild to normal depression levels (10.6 ± 5.6), mild to moderate stress levels (16.2 ± 5.8), and moderate anxiety levels (10.6 ± 5.6); therefore, anxiety seems to prevail among psychological burden conditions. Regarding HRQoL, moderate levels of overall physical health (50.5 ± 12.7) and moderate to low levels of overall mental health (44.5 ± 13.2) were observed. Stress, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL tend to be significantly influenced by various demographic and clinical attributes. As expected, an inverse correlation between HRQoL and psychological burden was observed. Conclusion The treatment of pediatric type 1 diabetes seems to be a family matter, given that family members are deeply involved in the general run of things. To enhance HRQoL and resilience against psychological burden for minor patients, both the patients and their caregivers/parents should be supported accordingly.