Georgia Papavasileiou

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is shortened in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but less data is available concerning pediatric cases. Multiple factors affect LTL, namely genes, epigenetics, environmental factors, oxidation, and psychological stress. Children with T1D and their families experience chronic stress. This study aimed to investigate LTL in children with T1D (n = 35) aged 6–13 years old, in comparison to age-matched healthy counterparts (n = 35), and assess any correlation of LTL with perceived stress. Relative LTL (rLTL) was assessed through real-time qPCR. Morning serum cortisol, high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured. Children completed the validated questionnaires “Stress in Children” and “Pediatric Quality of Life”. Parents answered the “Perceived Stress Scale”. Children with T1D had a lower rLTL (p = 0.02) compared to age-matched healthy controls, higher hsCRP (p = 0.031), and a lower estimated quality of life (p = 0.01). RLTL was found to be lower in females with T1D (p < 0.001) and was positively related to the ‘gender–social support’ factor (p = 0.002) and diabetes duration (p = 0.045), adjusted for children’s age, parental age, and sociodemographic characteristics. These pilot findings indicate early emergence of shorter rLTL in T1D, pointing to a sexual dimorphism pattern. Insights into preventing LTL shortening in pediatric T1D can be gained from large-scale studies examining the impact of gender and social support.

Childhood obesity is a complex disease with multiple biological and psychosocial risk factors. Recently, novel digital programs were developed with growing evidence for their effectiveness in pediatric weight management studies. The ENDORSE platform consists of mobile applications, wearables, and serious games for the remote management of childhood obesity. The pilot studies included 50 mothers and their children aged 6–14 years and resulted in a clinically significant BMI z-score reduction over 4 to 5 months. This secondary analysis of the ENDORSE study focuses on parenting styles and psychosocial factors. Methodology: Semi-structured clinical interviews were conducted with all participating mothers pre-and post-intervention. The Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) evaluated the mothers’ parenting styles. The psychosocial functioning of the participating children was assessed with the parental version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The relationship between parenting styles, psychosocial parameters, and weight outcomes was investigated using a linear regression analysis. Results: Weight-related stigma at school (56%), body image concerns (66%), and difficulties in family relationships (48%) were the main concerns documented during the initial psychological interviews. According to the SDQ, there was a significant decrease in children’s conduct problems during the study’s initial phase (pre-pilot group). A decrease in maternal demandingness (i.e., strict parenting style) was associated with a decrease in BMI z-score (beta coefficient = 0.314, p-value = 0.003). Conclusion: Decreasing parental demandingness was associated with better weight outcomes, highlighting the importance of assessing parenting factors in pediatric weight management programs.