Diabetes-related worries and coping among youth and young adults with diabetes

Authors: TARABAN, LINDSAY - Baylor College Of Medicine; WASSERMAN, RACHEL - University Of Central Florida; CAO, VIENA - Baylor College Of Medicine; ESTEHARDI, SAHAR - University Of Houston; ANDERSON, BARBARA - Baylor College Of Medicine; Thompson, Deborah - Debbe; MARRERO, DAVID - University Of Arizona; HILLIARD, MARISA - Baylor College Of Medicine

Submitted to: Journal of Pediatric Psychology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2022
Publication Date: 6/30/2022
Citation: Taraban, L., Wasserman, R., Cao, V.T., Estehardi, S.S., Anderson, B.J., Thompson, D.J., Marrero, D.G., Hilliard, M.E. 2022. Diabetes-related worries and coping among youth and young adults with diabetes. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsac055.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsac055

Interpretive Summary: Although youth with type 1 diabetes experience disease-related worries, only limited research has been conducted to identify the worries or coping strategies. A secondary data analysis of semi-structured interviews with children in middle adolescence through young adulthood revealed four themes: Managing Blood Glucose, Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Management, Interpersonal Relationships, and Lifestyle Impact. 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. 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.

Technical Abstract: 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. 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. 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. 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.