Title page for ETD etd-04022008-132730 ( Browse

Type of Document

Dissertation

Author

Hannan, Margaret Susan

Author's Email Address

mhannan@pitt.edu

URN

etd-04022008-132730

Title

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INITIATING DISCUSSION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES BETWEEN TEEN GIRLS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES AND THEIR MOTHERS

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Nursing

School

School of Nursing

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Denise Charron-Prochownik, PhD	Committee Chair
Linda Siminerio, PhD	Committee Member
Mary Beth Happ, PhD	Committee Member
Susan M. Sereika, PhD	Committee Member
Willa Doswell, PhD	Committee Member

Keywords

sexual communication
adolescents
Mothers

Date of Defense

2007-11-30

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

Objectives: To: 1) describe and examine the associations between general communication (GC) and intention to initiate discussion about reproductive health (RH) issues within mother-daughter dyads; 2) describe mothers’ knowledge and attitudes of diabetes and RH and mothers’ perceived available social support; 3) identify variables associated with mothers’ intention to initiate discussion and actual discussion of RH issues with their daughters with type 1 diabetes; and, 4) explore mothers’ perspectives about RH discussions.

Design: This study of mothers used a sequential explanatory mixed method design. Phase 1, the quantitative study, utilized a repeated-measures (baseline, 3-month) correlational design as part of a larger randomized-controlled preconception counseling intervention study with diabetic adolescent girls. Mothers did not receive an intervention. Forty-four mothers participated; with a mean age of 45.3 years (SD=5.3, range 34-57.1) and 82% (n=36) were Caucasian. Phase 2, a qualitative descriptive study, used open-ended semi-structured telephone interviews with mothers. Ten mothers were selected by criterion-related purposeful sampling from the phase 1 sample. Qualitative content analysis techniques were used to analyze the qualitative data.

Results: Mothers reported high levels of GC and moderate levels of intention to initiate RH discussions with their daughters. Few (55%) reported having actual RH discussions. Mothers’ intention was significantly associated (r=.579, p<.05) with GC. Overall, mothers lacked knowledge about diabetes and RH, had strong attitudes and high perceived social support. There were significant (p<.05) time effects for mothers’ knowledge, perceived barriers to their daughter preventing an unplanned pregnancy, and actual RH discussion. Five themes regarding mothers’ perspectives of RH discussions were identified: 1) awareness 2) knowledge; 3) triggers for initiating discussions; 4) fears/concerns; and, 5) comfort level with discussions. Mothers were aware that their daughters should preplan pregnancies. They knew that an unplanned pregnancy may have detrimental maternal/fetal effects. A major trigger for initiating discussions was a steady boyfriend. Overall, mothers were not comfortable with RH discussions.

Conclusions: Mothers lacked knowledge about RH and only half of the mothers initiated RH discussions with their diabetic daughters. Mothers could benefit from an intervention that provides information about diabetes and RH, and guidance on communication skills.

Files

Filename		Size	Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)
Filename		Size	28.8 Modem	56K Modem	ISDN (64 Kb)	ISDN (128 Kb)	Higher-speed Access
	HANNAN_MgtS_2007_PITTdiss.pdf	2.40 Mb	00:11:07	00:05:43	00:05:00	00:02:30	00:00:12