P590 Investigating the relationship between parent diabetes-related distress and family communication in parents of adolescents living with type 1 diabetes

Aims Parents of adolescents living with type 1 diabetes often struggle with sharing self-management responsibility with their children as roles change throughout adolescence. Existing evidence suggests that parents’ own emotions may impact how responsibility is shared. Parent diabetes-related distress may lead to ineffective communication between parents and adolescents throughout this developmental period as self-management moves from parent-led to adolescent-led. This study explored the relationship between parent diabetes-related distress, diabetes family responsibility, and parent-adolescent communication. Methods Parents (N = 146; 121 female; mean age = 46.56 years) of adolescents (11–17 years) living with type 1 diabetes completed a questionnaire which included measures of parent diabetes-related distress, diabetes family responsibility, and parent-adolescent communication. Parents were recruited via one national paediatric diabetes and endocrine unit and a national diabetes advocacy organisation. Findings Significant (p Conclusions Relationships between aspects of parent diabetes-related distress and parent-adolescent communication were observed; higher levels of parent diabetes-related distress indicated less open communication and more problems in communication. Higher parent diabetes-related distress was associated with more parental involvement in adolescents’ type 1 diabetes management. Adolescence is a key time in which diabetes management moves from parent-led to adolescent-led. Understanding the challenges that parents experience when sharing management responsibility and communicating with their adolescent children about type 1 diabetes management may help healthcare professional to provide more effective supports for parents and adolescents during this developmental period.