Intensified parenthood: A qualitative study exploring parents' gendered positions in the care of child-onset diabetes

Objective

This study explores how parents experience and manage the care and challenges in the period shortly after their child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, while placing an analytical focus on gendered dynamics between parents.

Background

Studies have shown that parents' involvement in managing their child's diabetes manifests in diverse ways. However, how parents construct and negotiate their caregiving roles and responsibilities has received little attention.

Methods

We conducted interviews with parents of 20 children (aged 0–18) recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, totaling 34 interviews over two time points: 20 within 4 weeks of diagnosis and 14 follow-up interviews 4 months later. The data were analyzed using theoretical thematic analysis and interpreted within the framework of positioning theory.

Results

The analysis generated four themes: childhood diabetes intensifies the experience of parental responsibility, fluid parenting roles with 100% commitment, negotiating parental positions, and drawback of polarized positions.

Conclusion

Parents engage in complex dynamics of negotiating their caregiving roles, often leading to gender-influenced polarized positions that shape their experiences and approaches to care and challenges.

Implications

This study highlights crucial dynamics important to address for tailoring support to meet the needs of both parents.