Depressive Symptoms and Social Support in Adolescents With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: Disease management outcomes, depressive symptoms, and levels of social support may differ between early and middle adolescents. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between depressive symptomatology, perceived social support, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c (A1C), and months since diagnosis for adolescents with type 2 diabetes ages 13 to 17 years.

Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study surveyed adolescents at an endocrinology clinic regarding depressive symptoms and perceived social support.

Results: Depressive symptoms were not significantly related to other variables; however, mean depressive symptoms scores were higher among early adolescents. Middle adolescents had lower body mass index percentiles but higher A1C levels. Early adolescents had greater mean scores of social support and reported that this support was more important compared with middle adolescents.

Discussion: The results show that differences exist in perceived social support, depressive symptoms, and A1C levels among early and middle adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescent; depression; social support; type 2 diabetes.