Status of social avoidance and distress in emerging adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and its association with self-management and glycemic control.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Emerging adult patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) appear to have a reduced opportunities on learning and exercise, a decreased skill in learning and work, a lower degree of social support due to fear and avoidance of social interaction. This study aimed to assess the level of social avoidance and distress in emerging adults with T1DM, and to explore the correlation between social avoidance and distress and self-management or glycemic control. METHODS: A total of 342 T1DM patients aged 18-30 years old were recruited from 8 tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province from September 2014 to February 2019. The questionnaire included general information questionnaire, the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAD), and Self-management Scale of Type 1 Diabetes for Chinese Adults (SMOD-CA). The total scores of SAD in emerging adult patients with T1DM were compared with those of norm. Correlation between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and social avoidance and distress of emerging adult patients with T1DM was analyzed. RESULTS: The total score of SAD (11.13±6.18) in emerging adults with T1DM was significantly higher than that in healthy adults (t=77.06, P<0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the scores of SAD, social avoidance subscale, and social distress subscale were negatively correlated with the scores of SMOD-CA (all P<0.01), and they were positively correlated with HbA1c (all P<0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that social avoidance and distress, self-management, gender, and educational level were independent influential factors for HbA1c in emerging adults with T1DM. CONCLUSION: The degree of social avoidance and distress of emerging adult patients with T1DM is higher than that of healthy people. The higher the degree of social avoidance and distress, the lower the level of self-management and the worse the control of blood sugar. Attention should be paid to social avoidance and distress in emerging adults with T1DM, and targeted interventions should be formulated.