Diabetes-Related Worries and Coping Among Youth and Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

Authors

Lindsay Taraban
Rachel Wasserman
Viena T Cao
Sahar S Eshtehardi
Barbara J Anderson
Debbe Thompson
David G Marrero
Marisa E Hilliard

Publication Date

10-19-2022

Journal

Journal of Pediatric Psychology

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsac055

PMID

35773974

PMCID

PMC9582784

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

6-30-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Adolescent, Young Adult, Child, Humans, Adult, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Quality of Life, Blood Glucose, Adaptation, Psychological, Anxiety, coping, pediatrics, qualitative research, type 1 diabetes, worries

Abstract

Objective: Although mood and anxiety symptoms are common in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), little research has described their worries across developmental stages or the strategies they use to cope with these worries. This secondary data analysis aimed to describe and characterize common T1D-related worries and coping strategies from middle childhood through young adulthood.

Methods: Twenty-three youth (9 children, 7 adolescents, and 7 young adults) completed semistructured qualitative interviews about health-related quality of life. We coded interview transcripts using thematic analysis to generate common themes of diabetes-related worries and coping strategies.

Results: Participants' worries fell into four major themes: Managing Blood Glucose, Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Management, Interpersonal Relationships, and Lifestyle Impact, and eight youth denied having diabetes-related worries. Coping strategies fell into the three major themes: Attempts to Change Source of Worry, Attempts to Change Reactions to Worry, and Attempts to Orient Away from the Worry.

Conclusions: Youths' worries about various aspects of living with and feeling able to self-manage diabetes are important to consider across pediatric development as they can impact youths' participation in daily activities and future plans. By adolescence, youth report longer-term worries about the health and lifestyle implications of diabetes. Youths' reported coping strategies are generally consistent with existing coping frameworks, though our data suggest some possible refinements. Social support emerged as an important coping strategy for all age groups. Thus, interventions supporting youth in building and strengthening their social networks may be particularly beneficial in helping youth cope with their diabetes-related worries across development.