Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Aug;33(3):255-263.
doi: 10.2337/ds19-0050.

Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Preparing to Transition to Adult Care: Psychosocial Functioning and Associations With Self-Management and Health Outcomes

Ana M Gutierrez-Colina  1 , Sarah Corathers  2   3 , Sarah Beal  1   2 , Holly Baugh  1 , Katie Nause  1 , Jessica C Kichler  1   2
Affiliations

Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Preparing to Transition to Adult Care: Psychosocial Functioning and Associations With Self-Management and Health Outcomes

Ana M Gutierrez-Colina et al. Diabetes Spectr. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

BACKGROUND | Young adulthood is a vulnerable developmental period associated with increased risk for suboptimal health outcomes in youth with type 1 diabetes. Psychosocial factors have been associated with self-management and glycemic control in younger populations, but the extent to which these associations exist among young adults is poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the psychosocial functioning of young adults with type 1 diabetes and associated clinical outcomes. METHODS | Participants included young adults (n = 44) between the ages of 18 and 23 years in a pediatric setting who were preparing to transition to adult care. All participants completed self-report measures of psychosocial functioning at baseline as part of this longitudinal observational study. Outcome data included glycemic control, frequency of blood glucose monitoring, and self-management ratings at baseline and 1-year follow-up. RESULTS | Young adults with type 1 diabetes reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, lower self-efficacy, and more risk behaviors compared with previously published scores for adolescents. Young adults also reported greater resilience and transition readiness than their younger counterparts. Psychosocial variables were differentially related to glycemic control and frequency of blood glucose monitoring both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. CONCLUSION | This study provides key information about the psychosocial functioning of young adults with type 1 diabetes. It identifies relevant psychosocial factors that are associated with meaningful health outcomes during the transition preparation period. These findings may inform the development of clinical programs aimed at promoting transition preparation and health outcomes in young adults with type 1 diabetes.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. White NH, Cleary PA, Dahms W, Goldstein D, Malone J, Tamborlane WV; Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) Research Group . Beneficial effects of intensive therapy of diabetes during adolescence: outcomes after the conclusion of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). J Pediatr 2001;139:804–812 - PubMed
    1. Benson JE, Elder GH Jr. Young adult identities and their pathways: a developmental and life course model. Dev Psychol 2011;47:1646–1657 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bonnie RJ, O’Connell ME; National Research Council and Institute of Medicine Committee on Developing a Strategy to Reduce and Prevent Underage Drinking. Introduction: the challenge. In Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility. Bonnie RJ, O’Connell ME, Eds. Washington, DC, National Academies Press, 2004, p. 13–32 - PubMed
    1. Tanner JL, Arnett JJ. The emergence of emerging adulthood: the new life stage between adolescence and young adulthood. In Routledge Handbook of Youth and Young Adulthood. Furlong A, Ed. New York, NY, Routledge, 2016, p. 50–56
    1. Monaghan M, Helgeson V, Wiebe D. Type 1 diabetes in young adulthood. Curr Diabetes Rev 2015;11:239–250 - PMC - PubMed