Introduction: Parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are frequently exposed to chronic stress, anxiety, and psychological burden due to the constant vigilance required in managing the condition. This emotional load can impair family well-being and negatively affect the child’s health outcomes. This pilot study aimed to explore the effectiveness of Brain Wave Modulation – Technique (BWM-T), a brief mind-body intervention, in reducing psychological distress in this population. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 25 parents of children and adolescents diagnosed with T1D. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Experimental group received the BWM-T protocol initially for four weeks (one session per week), followed by two biweekly online sessions and one final follow-up session after one month. Control group received a psychoeducational intervention on stress management following the same schedule as the experimental group. The assessment tools included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Parenting Stress Index – Short Form (PSI-SF), the Distress Thermometer (DT), the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), and the Parent Health Locus of Control scale. Results: Exploratory analyses confirm the effect of the interventions across different time points. Furthermore, a significant difference emerged between the experimental and control groups on PGWBI and DT after the intervention, supporting the hypothesis regarding the impact of the treatment on the variables psychological wellbeing and distress.
A Mind-Body Intervention (BWM-T) for Reducing Psychological Distress in Parents of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study
Ivonne Carosi Arcangeli
;Francesco Di Prinzio;Mauro Cozzolino
2025
Abstract
Introduction: Parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are frequently exposed to chronic stress, anxiety, and psychological burden due to the constant vigilance required in managing the condition. This emotional load can impair family well-being and negatively affect the child’s health outcomes. This pilot study aimed to explore the effectiveness of Brain Wave Modulation – Technique (BWM-T), a brief mind-body intervention, in reducing psychological distress in this population. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 25 parents of children and adolescents diagnosed with T1D. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Experimental group received the BWM-T protocol initially for four weeks (one session per week), followed by two biweekly online sessions and one final follow-up session after one month. Control group received a psychoeducational intervention on stress management following the same schedule as the experimental group. The assessment tools included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Parenting Stress Index – Short Form (PSI-SF), the Distress Thermometer (DT), the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), and the Parent Health Locus of Control scale. Results: Exploratory analyses confirm the effect of the interventions across different time points. Furthermore, a significant difference emerged between the experimental and control groups on PGWBI and DT after the intervention, supporting the hypothesis regarding the impact of the treatment on the variables psychological wellbeing and distress.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
