Psychosocial Outcomes in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: Associations With Grade Level and Disease Duration

Abstract

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to examine anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to determine differences based on grade level and disease duration. MethodWe conducted a secondary data analysis of adolescents with T1D, which included demographic characteristics, general anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms. ResultsOf the 147 adolescents included in the analysis, 32% (n=47) were in middle school and 68% (n=100) were in high school. Most had been diagnosed with diabetes for less than 3 years (67.3%, n=99). When controlling for covariates, middle schoolers were more likely to report clinically significant depressive symptoms compared to their high school peers (β = 0.83, p = 0.008). DiscussionYounger adolescents may be at a higher risk of a clinically significant symptom burden from depression and should be screened regularly. Future research should include tailoring psychosocial interventions specifically to an adolescent's age and disease duration.