Low Caregiver State Anxiety is Associated with Worse Glycemic Control in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

To examine the association between caregiver anxiety, glycemic control, and anxiety symptoms in youth with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study involving 200 dyads of youth aged 11-17 years with T1D and their primary caregivers.
Assessment Tools: Caregiver anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and youth anxiety was assessed using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED).
Statistical Analysis: Multiple logistic regression was used to examine associations between STAI quartiles and glycemic control defined as HbA1c ≤7.5%.

Youth with caregivers in the lowest quartile of state anxiety had lower odds of achieving HbA1c ≤7.5% compared to those in the middle 50% (adjusted odds ratio = 0.35; 95% CI [0.14-0.84], p=0.018).
60.5% of youth exhibited possible anxiety disorder based on SCARED scores.
Higher caregiver STAI scores correlated with higher youth SCARED scores.

Low caregiver state anxiety was associated with worse glycemic control in youth with T1D.

Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
Study focused on a specific age group and may not generalize to all youth with T1D.

The findings highlight the complex interplay between caregiver anxiety, youth anxiety, and glycemic control.