Relationships are linked with positive and negative self-management and illness outcomes for individuals with type 1 diabetes. Explanations for these mixed associations have remained separated in psychosocial research in type 1 diabetes by relationship type (e.g. parent vs spouse) and individual’s age (e.g. adolescence vs older adulthood). In this conceptual review, we present a novel perspective that close relationships across the lifespan may be beneficial for illness self-management when they support individuals’ sense of autonomy, defined from a Basic Psychological Needs perspective. Processes of autonomy support are crucial for promoting illness management across all ages and relationship types.
AllenJPHauserSTBellKL, et al. (1994) Longitudinal assessment of autonomy and relatedness in adolescent-family interactions as predictors of adolescent ego development and self-esteem. Child Development65(1): 179–194.
2.
AndersonBJCoyneJC (1991) “Miscarried helping” in the families of children and adolescents with chronic diseases. In: JohnsonJHJohnsonSB (eds) Advances in Child Health Psychology. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press, pp. 167–177.
3.
ArnettJJ (2000) Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist55(5): 469–480.
4.
AugustKJSorkinDH (2010) Marital status and gender differences in managing a chronic illness: The function of health-related social control. Social Science & Medicine71(10): 1831–1838.
5.
AustinSSenécalCGuayF, et al. (2011) Effects of gender, age, and diabetes duration on dietary self-care in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A self-determination theory perspective. Journal of Health Psychology16(6): 917–928.
6.
BaltesMMSilverbergSB (1994) The dynamics between dependency and autonomy: Illustrations across the lifespan. In: FeathermanDLLernerRMPerlmutterMM (eds) Life-span Development and Behavior (12th edn). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, pp. 41–90.
7.
BaltesMMWahlH-W (1992) The dependency-support script in institutions: Generalization to community settings. Psychology and Aging7(3): 409–418.
8.
BarnardKThomasSRoyleP, et al. (2010) Fear of hypoglycaemia in parents of young children with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review. BMC Pediatrics10: 50.
9.
BrismarTMaurexLCoorayG, et al. (2007) Predictors of cognitive impairment in type 1 diabetes. Psychoneuroendocrinology32(8–10): 1041–1051.
10.
ChiangJLKirkmanMSLaffelLMB, et al. (2014) Type 1 diabetes through the life span: A position statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care37(7): 2034–2054.
11.
ChisholmVAtkinsonLDonaldsonC, et al. (2007) Predictors of treatment adherence in young children with type 1 diabetes. Journal of Advanced Nursing57(5): 482–493.
12.
DanemanDFrankMPerlmanK, et al. (1999) The infant and toddler with diabetes: Challenges of diagnosis and management. Paediatrics & Child Health4(1): 57–63.
13.
DavisCLDelamaterAMShawKH, et al. (2001) Parenting styles, regimen adherence, and glycemic control in 4- to 10-year-old children with diabetes. Journal of Pediatric Psychology26(2): 123–129.
14.
DeciELRyanRM (1987) The support of autonomy and the control of behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology53(6): 1024–1037.
15.
DhaliwalRWeinstockRS (2014) Management of type 1 diabetes in older adults. Diabetes Spectrum27(1): 9–20.
16.
DweckCS (2017) From needs to goals and representations: Foundations for a unified theory of motivation, personality, and development. Psychological Review124(6): 689–719.
17.
FingermanKLChenPCHayE, et al. (2006) Ambivalent reactions in the parent and offspring relationship. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences61(3): P152–P160.
18.
FisherEBLa GrecaAMGrecoP, et al. (1997) Directive and nondirective social support in diabetes management. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine4(2): 131–144.
19.
FollansbeeDS (1989) Assuming responsibility for diabetes management: What age? What price?The Diabetes Educator15(4): 347–353.
20.
FraleyRCShaverPR (2008) Attachment theory and its place in contemporary personality research. In: JohnORobinsRW (eds) Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research (3rd edn). New York: Guilford Press, pp. 518–541.
21.
GallantMPSpitzeGDProhaskaTR (2007) Help or hindrance? How family and friends influence chronic illness self-management among older adults. Research on Aging29(5): 375–409.
22.
GillibrandRStevensonJ (2007) The role of partner relationships in the young person’s adherence to the diabetes self-care regime. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine14(3): 151–155.
23.
HannaKMGuthrieD (2003) Adolescents’ behavioral autonomy related to diabetes management and adolescent activities/rules. The Diabetes Educator29(2): 283–291.
24.
HannaKMWeaverMTStumpTE, et al. (2014) Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes during the first year post-high school: Perceptions of parental behaviors. Emerging Adulthood2(2): 128–137.
25.
HarrisMAAntalHOelbaumR, et al. (2008) Good intentions gone awry: Assessing parental “miscarried helping” in diabetes. Families, Systems, & Health26(4): 393–403.
26.
HilliardMEMonaghanMCogenFR, et al. (2011) Parent stress and child behaviour among young children with type 1 diabetes. Child: Care, Health and Development37(2): 224–232.
27.
InzucchiSEBergenstalRMBuseJB, et al. (2015) Management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes, 2015: A patient-centered approach. Diabetes Care38(1): 140–149.
28.
JacobsonAMRyanCMClearyPA, et al. (2011) Biomedical risk factors for decreased cognitive functioning in type 1 diabetes: An 18 year follow-up of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) cohort. Diabetologia54(2): 245–255.
29.
JacobsonSWoodFG (2004) Contributions of children to the care of adults with diabetes. The Diabetes Educator30(5): 820–826.
30.
KingPSBergCAButnerJ, et al. (2014) Longitudinal trajectories of parental involvement in type 1 diabetes and adolescents’ adherence. Health Psychology33(5): 424–432.
31.
LandersSEFriedrichEAJawadAF, et al. (2016) Examining the interaction of parental involvement and parenting style in predicting adherence in youth with type 1 diabetes. Families, Systems, & Health34(1): 41–50.
32.
LangFRSchützeY (2002) Adult children’s supportive behaviors and older parents’ subjective well-being: A developmental perspective on intergenerational relationships. Journal of Social Issues58(4): 661–680.
33.
LewinABHeidgerkenADGeffkenGR, et al. (2006) The relation between family factors and metabolic control: The role of diabetes adherence. Journal of Pediatric Psychology31(2): 174–183.
34.
McElhaney BoykinKAllenJPStepensonJC, et al. (2009) Attachment and autonomy during adolescence. In: LernerRMSteinbergL (eds) Handbook of Adolescent Psychology (3rd edn). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 358–403.
35.
MackeyERHerbertLMonaghanM, et al. (2016) The feasibility of a pilot intervention for parents of young children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology4(1): 35–50.
36.
MageauGARangerFJoussemetM, et al. (2015) Validation of the Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale (P-PASS). Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science47(3): 251–262.
37.
MayberryLSOsbornCY (2014) Family involvement is helpful and harmful to patients’ self-care and glycemic control. Patient Education and Counseling97(3): 418–425.
38.
ModiACPaiALHommelKA, et al. (2012) Pediatric self-management: A framework for research, practice, and policy. Pediatrics129(2): e473–e485.
39.
NgJNtoumanisNThøgersen-NtoumaniC, et al. (2012) Self-determination theory applied to health contexts: A meta-analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science7(4): 325–340.
40.
PalmerDLBergCAWiebeDJ, et al. (2004) The role of autonomy and pubertal status in understanding age differences in maternal involvement in diabetes responsibility across adolescence. Journal of Pediatric Psychology29(1): 35–46.
41.
PambiancoGCostacouTEllisD, et al. (2006) The 30-year natural history of type 1 diabetes complications: The Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study experience. Diabetes55(5): 1463–1469.
42.
PattonSRDolanLMPowersSW (2007) Dietary adherence and associated glycemic control in families of young children with type 1 diabetes. Journal of the American Dietetic Association107(1): 46–52.
43.
PendleyJSKasmenLJMillerDL, et al. (2002) Peer and family support in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Journal of Pediatric Psychology27(5): 429–438.
44.
PowersSWByarsKCMitchellMJ, et al. (2002) Parent report of mealtime behavior and parenting stress in young children with type 1 diabetes and in healthy control subjects. Diabetes Care25(2): 313–318.
45.
RintalaTPaavilainenEÅstedt-KurkiP (2013) Everyday life of a family with diabetes as described by adults with type 1 diabetes. European Diabetes Nursing10(3): 86–90.
46.
RoslandA-MHeislerMPietteJD (2012) The impact of family behaviors and communication patterns on chronic illness outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Behavioral Medicine35(2): 221–239.
47.
RyanRMDeciEL (2000) Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist55(1): 68–78.
48.
RyanRMDeciELGrolnickWS (1995) Autonomy, relatedness, and the self: Their relation to development and psychopathology. In: CichettiDCohenDJ (eds) Developmental Psychopathology, Volume 1: Theory and Method. New York: Wiley, pp. 618–655.
49.
Seiffge-KrenkeILaursenBDicksonDJ, et al. (2013) Declining metabolic control and decreasing parental support among families with adolescents with diabetes: The risk of restrictiveness. Journal of Pediatric Psychology38: 518–530.
50.
SilversteinJKlingensmithGCopelandK, et al. (2005) Care of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A statement of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care28(1): 186–212.
51.
SoenensBVansteenkisteMLensW, et al. (2007) Conceptualizing parental autonomy support: Adolescent perceptions of promotion of independence versus promotion of volitional functioning. Developmental Psychology43(3): 633–646.
52.
Sparud-LundinCOhrnIDanielsonE (2010) Redefining relationships and identity in young adults with type 1 diabetes. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(1): 128–138.
53.
StephensMAPFranksMMRookKS, et al. (2013) Spouses’ attempts to regulate day-to-day dietary adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes. Health Psychology32(10): 1029–1037.
54.
ThorpeCTLewisMASterbaKR (2008) Reactions to health-related social control in young adults with type 1 diabetes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine31(2): 93–103.
55.
TriefPMJiangYBeckR, et al. (2017) Adults with type 1 diabetes: Partner relationships and outcomes. Journal of Health Psychology22(4): 446–456.
56.
TriefPMSandbergJGreenbergRP, et al. (2003) Describing support: A qualitative study of couples living with diabetes. Families, Systems, & Health21(1): 57–67.
57.
TriefPMSandbergJGDimmockJA, et al. (2013) Personal and relationship challenges of adults with type 1 diabetes: A qualitative focus group study. Diabetes Care36(9): 2483–2488.
58.
TuckerJSAndersSL (2001) Social control of health behaviors in marriage. Journal of Applied Social Psychology31(3): 467–485.
59.
WiebeDJBergCAKorbelC, et al. (2005) Children’s appraisals of maternal involvement in coping with diabetes: Enhancing our understanding of adherence, metabolic control, and quality of life across adolescence. Journal of Pediatric Psychology30(2): 167–178.
60.
WilliamsGCPatrickHNiemiecCP, et al. (2009) Reducing the health risks of diabetes: How self-determination theorymayhelp improve medication adherence and quality of life. The Diabetes Educator35(3): 484–492.
61.
WuYPRauschJRohanJM, et al. (2014) Autonomy support and responsibility-sharing predict blood glucose monitoring frequency among youth with diabetes. Health Psychology33(10): 1224–1231.
62.
ZoffmannVLauritzenT (2006) Guided self-determination improves life skills with type 1 diabetes and A1C in randomized controlled trial. Patient Education and Counseling64(1–3): 78–86.
