Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Young Adults With Diabetes in the Clinic and Beyond: Preface.

Abstract

Young adulthood is a developmental phase occurring between the ages of 18 and 25 years with social, physical, and cognitive characteristics that distinguish it from adolescence and adulthood (1). Often referred to as “emerging adulthood,” this stage, for many individuals, involves transitioning from a parent-directed adolescent experience largely taking place at home and school to independent adult roles and experiences, separate finances, and their own mature relationships (1). As a result, the young adult period is inherently unstable due to multiple developmentally normative transitional events and competing educational, social, and economic demands (1). The emerging literature base indicates that young adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes experience developmental challenges similar to those of young adults without diabetes, but with the added challenge of managing a complex chronic medical condition (2–4). Thus, the daily demands of diabetes care, including the need to coordinate daily self-management, find and engage with appropriate health care providers, and obtain access to supplies and medical care, must be incorporated into all of the normative decisions that young adults make related to relationships, occupations, living arrangements, and financial management (3,4). Recognizing the challenges that young adults with diabetes face, the American Diabetes Association in 2011 published a position statement on diabetes care in young adults (5). Among other things, this position statement called for a framework to guide treatment decisions for, and research with, this population (5). In the past decade, there has been an upsurge in diabetes research focusing on this unique and challenging developmental period. Nonetheless, most young adults with diabetes continue to struggle to meet glycemic targets, and these findings are even …