Disparities in Responsibility Sharing and Gender Differences in Diabetes Care: Changes in Occupational Life of Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes.

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate responsibility sharing between parents of children with type 1 diabetes and change in their occupational status one year after the diagnosis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional multicenter study, parents of children under the age of 18 with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes answered a questionnaire assessing diabetes-related responsibility sharing between parents, and occupational changes due to child's diabetes. Changes in the occupational status with associated factors and distribution of diabetes-related responsibilities between parents were analyzed.

Results: Among parents of 882 children (mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 7 (3.8) years, female 52.5%), unemployment increased significantly in mothers (59.0% vs. 67.1%; p < 0.001), but not in fathers (10.4% vs. 10.7%; p > 0.05) within 1 year after their child's diagnosis. Working mother's occupational withdrawal was associated with the child's age at diagnosis (OR = 0.92, [95% CI 0.86-0.99]; p=0.02) and mother's education (compared to a university degree or above, high school graduate (OR = 2.93, [95% CI 1.59-5.4]; p < 0.001) and not graduated high school (OR = 8.4, [95% CI 3.56-19.83]; p < 0.001)). According to the mothers, none of the responsibilities in diabetes care were shared equally between parents, while fathers reported most responsibilities were shared equally. Compared to mothers who preserved their occupation after the diagnosis, mothers who quit their occupation had significantly higher responsibility scores (2.04 vs. 1.55; p=0.04), especially in diabetes care at school (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: The difference in parents' perceptions of their involvement in their child's diabetes is remarkable. Gender differences in the child's diabetes care extend to the occupational life of parents unequally.