Original Research ArticleFeasibility and Acceptability of a Mother-Daughter Intervention to Prevent Disordered Eating in Girls with Type 1 Diabetes

Disordered eating behavior (DEB) is correlated with development of eating disorders and other psychological illnesses. Adolescent females with Type-1diabetes (T1DM) are at higher risk for developing DEB and have a two-fold higher incidence of DEB than their non-diabetic counterparts. Individuals with T1DM have the unique ability to omit insulin as a weight reduction strategy. DEB in T1DM adolescent females significantly increases the risk for premature nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and death. Despite strong evidence to support the association between DEB and negative health outcomes, little research has focused on interventions to prevent the development of DEB in this population. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of a mother-daughter intervention addressing three of the major risk factors for DEB: low self-esteem, poor body image, and maternal-daughter communication. Intervention development was guided by feminist, cognitive behavioral, and current diabetic theoretical frameworks and input from a mother-daughter dyad with the daughter having T1DM. Data was collected from 10 mother-daughter dyads (n=20) on intervention effectiveness and overall acceptability. Feasibility and acceptability of the intervention was high in both mothers and daughters. Positive gains noted by participants included increased knowledge of mother-daughter communication, self-esteem, and deciphering media messages. A pre/post-test design was utilized to examine changes in depression, self-esteem, body image, mother-daughter relationship, and disordered eating risk from pre to postintervention. Encouraging changes in the clinically desired direction were seen in body image and disordered eating risk post-intervention.