Parental healthliteracy as a predictor of caregiver burden among parents of children with type1 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between health literacy levels and caregiver burden among parents of children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 156 parents of children diagnosed with T1DM. Data were collected through convenience sampling between January and May 2025 using an online questionnaire form prepared to reach eligible participants via social media platforms and online communication applications. The data were collected using the “Information Form,” the “Health Literacy Scale–Short Form,” and the “Zarit Burden Interview.” The study was reported in accordance with the STROBE guidelines for reporting observational studies. Of the participants, 67.3% were mothers and 32.7% were fathers. The majority of the children were between 7 and 12 years of age (61.5%), and the mean duration since diagnosis was 3.96 ± 2.85 years. The parents’ mean health literacy score was 38.85 ± 7.81, while their mean caregiver burden score was 32.83 ± 12.17. A negative and statistically significant relationship was found between parents’ health literacy levels and caregiver burden ( r =-0.162; p = 0.013). Prior to multiple linear regression analysis, outlier analysis was performed to meet the model assumptions. Parent age, child age, health literacy, and income status were significantly associated with caregiver burden, and the model explained 25.9% of the total variance (R²=0.259; p < 0.001). Child age showed the strongest association with caregiver burden (β = 0.437). The findings indicate that parental health literacy was significantly associated with caregiver burden, although the magnitude of this association was modest. Child age, parent age, and income status also contributed to caregiver burden, suggesting that caregiver burden is a multidimensional outcome influenced by developmental and socioeconomic factors. Future studies should evaluate whether nurse-led education and counseling programs that address parents’ ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information are associated with caregiver outcomes.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. BMC Nursing, 2026 · DOI ↗