Diabetes Stigma and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adolescents and Young Adults: the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study

Abstract

<p dir="ltr">Objective: To examine the association between diabetes stigma, socioeconomic status, psychosocial variables, and substance use in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.</p><p dir="ltr">Research Design and Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of AYAs from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study who completed a survey on diabetes-related stigma, generating a total diabetes stigma score. Using multivariable modeling, stratified by diabetes type, we examined the relationship of diabetes stigma with variables of interest. </p><p dir="ltr">Results: Of the 1,608 AYAs who completed the diabetes-related stigma survey, 78% had type 1 diabetes and mean age was 21.7 years. Higher diabetes stigma scores were associated with food insecurity (p = 0.001), disordered eating (p < 0.0001), depressive symptoms (p < 0.0001), and decreased health-related (p < 0.0001) and diabetes-specific quality of life (p < 0.0001). </p><p dir="ltr">Conclusions: Diabetes stigma is associated with food insecurity, disordered eating, and lower psychosocial well-being. </p><p><br></p>