Living with Type 1 Diabetes: The Influence of the Child’s Gender on Family Functioning

Having a child with type 1 diabetes (T1D) has an impact on the family’s dynamics, but less is known about the specific influence the child’s gender exerts. The parents attending a routine diabetic review clinic were asked to complete the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-IV), and associated measures of family communication and satisfaction with family life. 53 mothers and 10 fathers completed the questionnaires, and the results revealed that mothers found communication within the family poorer if the index child was a girl, and felt less satisfied with family life. The fathers reports tended to echo this view. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed, and it is suggested that routine review of children with T1D should maintain awareness that family functioning may be experiencing strain, particularly if the index child is a girl.