Authoritarian parenting style predicts poorer glycemic control in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes.

Objective: To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations among parenting styles (ie, authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive) and youth glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a cohort of families of children with new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: One-hundred two parents completed a baseline measure of parenting style, and we collected child HbA1c values at baseline and at three- and six-month follow-ups. We examined correlations among use of different parenting strategies and child HbA1cs. We conducted multiple regressions to assess the impact of these strategies on child HbA1c at three-month and six-month follow-ups, while controlling for baseline HbA1c, family income, and T1D duration.

Results: Correlational analyses showed negative associations between authoritative strategies and child HbA1c at baseline, three-month, and six-month assessments and positive associations between authoritarian strategies and child HbA1c at three-month and six-month assessments. Regression analyses found use of authoritarian-like strategies were the only parenting strategies associated with child HbA1c at three-month and six-month follow-ups, while controlling for baseline HbA1c, family income, and T1D duration.

Conclusion: Parents' use of authoritarian-like strategies may negatively impact glycemic control over the course of six-month in children with new-onset T1D.