Abstract

Diabetes-focused camps emerged as a way to provide ongoing diabetes self-management education to youth and their families in a physically active context. Past research suggests participation at camp can enhance youths’ glycemic control and glucose monitoring abilities; however, recent studies claim camps can also offer psychological and social benefits. Drawing upon a positive youth development (PYD) approach, the current study examined an inclusive diabetic-focused youth sport camp to (a) identify life skills developed, and (b) explain processes and factors involved in youths’ development of life skills. Focus groups were conducted with 54 youth living with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) attending an inclusive T1DM sport camp. The model of PYD through sport (Holt et al., 2017) guided the analysis. PYD outcomes (i.e., life skills developed through the camp) were (a) enhanced self-efficacy for self-monitoring of blood glucose, (b) enhanced self-efficacy for sport while living with T1DM, and (c) development of positive relationships. These outcomes were facilitated through the camp’s inclusive approach (i.e., including youth living with and without T1DM), and a PYD climate (implicitly), which included supportive relationships with counsellors and peers, and interestingly, the lack of parental involvement at the camp. The camp’s explicit life skills program focus (i.e., on diabetes self-care skills) also facilitated these outcomes. This study gives camp professionals insight into how an inclusive T1DM sport camp can facilitate life skills, and optimize PYD.

Highlights

  • Worldwide it is estimated that over 542,000 children under the age of 15 are living with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and 107,300 of these children live in North America (International Diabetes Federation, 2015)

  • This study addressed limitations and gaps of past work, by examining an inclusive diabetes-focused youth sport camp, and (a) identifying life skills developed through the camp, and (b) explaining processes and factors involved in youths’ development of life skills

  • This study examined an inclusive diabetic youth sport camp, with the aim of (a) identifying life skills developed among youth in the camp, and (b) explaining the processes and factors facilitating youths’ development of these life skills

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Summary

Introduction

Worldwide it is estimated that over 542,000 children under the age of 15 are living with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and 107,300 of these children live in North America (International Diabetes Federation, 2015). T1DM is an autoimmune disease resulting in a chronic condition where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin for the body (Hanas, 2010). T1DM encroaches on youths’ personal and psychological development (Guthrie, Bartsocas, Jarosz-Chabot, & Konstantinova, 2003). Living with T1DM is associated with increased desire for peer acceptance, poor school performance, employment difficulties, increased risk of negative psychosocial outcomes, delays in independence development, and increased prevalence of depression (Delamater, de Wit, McDarby, Malik, & Acerini, 2014; Kakleas, Kandyla, Karayianni, & Karavanaki, 2009; Karlsson, Arman & Wikbald, 2008). Youth living with T1DM suggest they feel different from their peers, and desire being “normal” living without disease (Guthrie et al, 2003)

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