Parents' sense of coherence and the adolescent's health and emotional and behavioral adjustment: The case of adolescents with diabetes

Introduction: This study examines parental sense of coherence (SOC) as a resource to health and well-being among adolescents with diabetes. Method: Participants were recruited by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and a major pediatric diabetes clinic. Parents of 75 adolescents with type 1 diabetes completed the SOC Questionnaire. Parents and adolescents completed questionnaires regarding the child's physical health, disease self-management, and behavioral problems. Parents and physicians reported adolescent's HbA1c level. Results: Results showed that parents' SOC was positively correlated to adolescents' physical health and negatively to internalizing problems. Conclusions: Findings highlight the place of parents in the wellness of adolescents with disease and provide a basis for interventions that enhance adolescents' health and psychological adjustment.