Effects of a Diabetic Child on Marital Integration and Related Measures of Family Functioning

Abstract

Chronic illness in 1 family member may affect the relationship among other members. The onset of diabetes in a preadolescent child may affect his parents'' marital relationship. Four independent measures tested the hypothesis that the marital integration of parents of diabetic children wouldbe significantly lower than that of parents of matched nondiabetics. Results were statistically significant on measures and in the predicted direction on the other 2. It is suggested that diabetes is a crisis situation, intrafamilial in origin, and has negative effects on family relationships.