Early adolescents' goals and mothers' accuracy in predicting adolescent goals in the context of type 1 diabetes

The study examined content of adolescent goals and mothers' awareness of these goals in the context of type 1 diabetes management. Adolescents and their mothers independently reported short-term goals for the adolescent, which were coded into domains. Mothers predicted whether the goal they rated as most important would also be reported by their adolescent, and coders verified the accuracy of mothers' judgments. Mothers' accuracy was associated with less adolescent depressed mood. When mothers' accuracy reflected mother-adolescent agreement that the goal was important and being pursued by the adolescent, this positive accuracy was associated with less adolescent depressed mood, fewer problems with diabetes, and maternal acceptance. Results emphasize the importance of considering the social nature of goals in mother-adolescent relationships and diabetes management.