Diabetes-specific Functioning Research Articles

Diabetes-specific functioning in parents of young children with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes.

A Type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis in young children can cause significant family stress. Parents may experience increased depressive symptoms, but less is known about early diabetes-specific functioning (i.e., parental self-efficacy to manage diabetes, hypoglycemia fear, and coparenting conflict). We evaluated a theoretically based model of diabetes-specific functioning among parents of young children newly diagnosed with T1D (YC-T1D). The model included parent demographic variables, child illness-factors, family protective factors, and general parent emotional functioning. One hundred fifty-seven newly diagnosed YC-T1D (Mage = 4.4 ± 1.7 years; M days postdiagnosis = 29.0 ± 15.4) and their primary caregivers (91.7% female; 61% non-Hispanic White) were assessed at baseline of a behavioral intervention randomized controlled trial. We used psychosocial measures to explore hypothesized domains associated with parents' diabetes-specific functioning using structural equation modeling. More difficulties with parent emotional functioning were related to more problems with parent diabetes-specific functioning, and higher family protective factors were related to fewer problems with diabetes-specific functioning. Child-illness factors were also directly related to more difficulties with parent diabetes-specific functioning and emotional functioning. Parents with college education reported more difficulties with emotional functioning and parent diabetes-specific functioning. Younger child age was associated with fewer difficulties with emotional functioning and more family protective factors. Results provide initial support for a model of parent diabetes specific-functioning at young child T1D diagnosis. Future research may examine this model in relation to children's glycemic outcomes over the first year after diagnosis. Implications are made for parent screening at the time of YC-T1D diagnosis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Illness identity and adjusting to type I diabetes: A four-wave longitudinal study.

Prior research has linked illness identity-or the extent to which the illness is integrated into one's identity-to diabetes-specific functioning. Four illness identity dimensions have been identified: rejection, acceptance, engulfment, and enrichment. As longitudinal research on this topic is scarce, this study examined developmental trajectories of illness identity and prospective associations between illness identity and diabetes-specific functioning. Adolescents and emerging adults with Type I diabetes, aged 14 to 25 (Mage = 19; 54% girls), participated in a four-wave longitudinal study spanning 3 years (N = 559 at Time 1). Participants filled out questionnaires on illness identity, treatment adherence, and diabetes-specific distress. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values were obtained from participants' medical records. To chart the development of illness identity over time, we performed latent growth curve modeling. Cross-lagged analysis was used to examine prospective associations between illness identity and diabetes-specific functioning. We observed small linear increases in acceptance (Mslope = .05, p < .01) and engulfment (Mslope = .03, p < .05) and a small linear decrease in rejection (Mslope = -.08, p < .001) across waves (with scale scores ranging between 1 and 5). Rejection negatively predicted and enrichment positively predicted treatment adherence 1 year later, which, in turn, positively predicted enrichment and negatively predicted engulfment over time. Furthermore, rejection and engulfment positively predicted diabetes-specific distress 1 year later. Finally, diabetes-specific distress and HbA1c positively predicted engulfment 1 year later. Standardized cross-lagged coefficients ranged between |.05| and |.11|. We identified small but interesting changes in three out of four illness identity dimensions. Prospective associations between illness identity and diabetes-specific functioning were bidirectional in nature. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

2172-PUB: Factors Influencing Parent Emotional Functioning after Young Child’s Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis

Introduction: Young child type 1 diabetes (YC-T1D) diagnosis can cause significant stress. While rates of increased depression have been documented, less is known about parent general emotional functioning (EF). This study aims to evaluate four hypothesized domains that may be related to parents’ EF: family characteristics, diabetes health characteristics, family protective factors (PF), and diabetes-specific functioning. Method: 157 newly diagnosed YC-T1D (M age=4.43±1.67; M days post diagnosis =28.78±15.10) and their primary caregivers (72% Caucasian, 90% female) were assessed for an RCT evaluating a behavioral intervention. Medical data were extracted from the EHR. Parents completed a psychosocial battery at baseline; selected measures were identified to explore hypothesized domains associated with parents’ EF: family characteristics (Race), PF (Protective Factors Survey, Social Support), diabetes-specific functioning (Self-Efficacy for Diabetes-Parent) and parent EF (Perceived Stress Scale). Results: Table 1 presents findings from regression analyses. Conclusion: Preliminary findings demonstrate associations among family characteristics, PF, and diabetes-specific functioning with parent EF. Results provide initial support for a broader model, which may incorporate additional variables; future research may examine a broader model over the first year after diagnosis. Disclosure C. Tully: None. M.E. Hilliard: None. M. Monaghan: Research Support; Self; American Diabetes Association. J. Wang: None. R. Streisand: None. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK102561)

Identity formation in adolescents and emerging adults with type 1 diabetes

ABSTRACTThe present study investigated identity formation in adolescents and emerging adults with type 1 diabetes and its relation to psychological and diabetes-specific functioning. As diabetes management is especially challenging in these life periods, identity problems may not only hamper psychological adjustment, but could also impact diabetes management. A total of 431 patients were 1:1 matched with control participants, based on age, gender, and context (student, employed, other). To investigate identity types or statuses, cluster analysis on different identity processes was conducted, resulting in six statuses. Patients in foreclosure and achievement (both characterized by strong identity commitments) presented with the most adaptive functioning. Patients in troubled diffusion and moratorium (both characterized by a maladaptive type of exploration) showed the least adaptive scores on well-being, diabetes-specific problems, treatment adherence, and illness-perceptions. The present study underscores the importance of assessing identity issues in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Disturbed Eating Behaviors in Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A One-Year Prospective Study.

Disturbed eating behavior (DEB) is prevalent in youth with type 1 diabetes and is accompanied by an increased risk for complications, morbidity, and mortality. Prospective studies on DEB in the challenging transition to adulthood are scarce. This longitudinal study examined DEB over a 1-year period and investigated the directionality of effects linking DEB to diabetes-specific functioning and depressive symptoms in adolescents and emerging adults. Three hundred youth (16-28 years old) with type 1 diabetes participated in a two-wave longitudinal study. Questionnaires measured DEB (Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised [DEPS-R]), self-management, diabetes distress, and depressive symptoms. HbA1c values were obtained from physicians. Mixed ANOVA and cross-lagged analysis were used to examine prospective changes and directionality of effects, respectively. Mean DEB remained stable in the total sample, but significant individual differences were observed based on the cutoff score of the DEPS-R: 19% displayed persistent DEB and 8% increased and 7.3% decreased in DEB over time. The remaining individuals scored low on DEB over time. These four groups were differentiated based on insulin restriction, omission, diabetes-specific functioning, and depressive symptoms. Cross-lagged analyses indicated that DEB predicted relative increases in depressive symptoms over time, whereas reciprocal associations with glycemic control were found. This longitudinal study highlights the substantial impact DEB may have in the transition to adulthood, with a substantial portion of youth with type 1 diabetes being at risk for clinical DEB. Prospective pathways linking DEB to functioning were found, emphasizing the clinical relevance of assessing DEB over time.

Illness Identity in Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Introducing the Illness Identity Questionnaire.

The current study examined the utility of a new self-report questionnaire, the Illness Identity Questionnaire (IIQ), which assesses the concept of illness identity, or the degree to which type 1 diabetes is integrated into one's identity. Four illness identity dimensions (engulfment, rejection, acceptance, and enrichment) were validated in adolescents and emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Associations with psychological and diabetes-specific functioning were assessed. A sample of 575 adolescents and emerging adults (14-25 years of age) with type 1 diabetes completed questionnaires on illness identity, psychological functioning, diabetes-related problems, and treatment adherence. Physicians were contacted to collect HbA1c values from patients' medical records. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the IIQ. Path analysis with structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between illness identity and psychological and diabetes-specific functioning. CFA indicated that the IIQ has a clear factor structure, meaningfully differentiating four illness identity dimensions. Rejection was related to worse treatment adherence and higher HbA1c values. Engulfment was related to less adaptive psychological functioning and more diabetes-related problems. Acceptance was related to more adaptive psychological functioning, fewer diabetes-related problems, and better treatment adherence. Enrichment was related to more adaptive psychological functioning. The present findings underscore the importance of the concept of illness identity. A valid and reliable measure, the IIQ, is introduced to measure four illness identity dimensions in individuals with type 1 diabetes. These four illness identity dimensions were uniquely related to psychological and diabetes-specific functioning.

Mealtime behavior and diabetes-specific parent functioning in young children with type 1 diabetes.

Management of meals and mealtime behavior is often challenging for parents of young children with Type 1 diabetes. Parent functioning related to diabetes care may directly affect mealtime behaviors and glycemic control. This study evaluated associations among diabetes-specific parent functioning, parent and child mealtime behaviors, and glycemic control. Parents of young children with Type 1 diabetes (n = 134) completed self-report measures assessing diabetes-specific functioning (hypoglycemia fear, diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes-related quality of life) and child and parent mealtime behaviors. Hemoglobin A1c and percentage of blood glucose values out of range (<70 mg/dL or >200 mg/dL) over a 30-day period were abstracted from medical charts as indicators of glycemic control. Structural equation modeling was utilized to evaluate predictors and related outcomes of child and parent mealtime behavior. The proposed model fit the data very well. More frequent problematic child mealtime behaviors were associated with poorer glycemic control; however, more frequent problematic parent mealtime behaviors were marginally associated with better glycemic control. Poorer diabetes-specific parent functioning was associated with more frequent problematic child and parent mealtime behaviors. Problematic child mealtime behaviors, such as disruptive behavior, present a significant risk for poorer glycemic control. Parents may engage in ineffective mealtime management strategies in an effort to meet glycemic recommendations and avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Future research will help to determine whether parents may benefit from specific, developmentally appropriate behavioral strategies to manage meals and snacks and promote optimal diabetes management.