Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this mixed-methods descriptive study with parents of children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes was to explore their experiences with peer social support following the Social Support to Empower Parents (STEP) intervention and the usefulness of the Family Management Measure (FaMM) in this population.
Methods
Parents who were in the experimental arm of STEP were recruited. Qualitative interviews were conducted (n = 21), and 11 parents completed the FaMM, a quantitative family-functioning measure. Qualitative content data analysis was conducted and compared to the descriptive measure analysis.
Findings
Three themes were identified: availability, practical tips, and common ground. Five FaMM subscales were reliable (α > .80) in this small sample.
Conclusions
The findings illustrate that the STEP intervention is helpful, providing the participants with emotional, affirmational, and informational social support. The use of the FaMM is a first step in assessing family management in families with children with type 1 diabetes.
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