Stressors in Teens with Type 1 Diabetes and Their Parents: Immediate and Long-Term Implications for Transition to Self-Management
Section snippets
Methods
Data were obtained using one-time semistructured telephone interviews with teens with Type 1 diabetes and their parents. Following ethical approval from the University of Iowa Institutional Review Board, participants provided written consent or assent.
Description of the sample and study procedures is in Table 1. Of 30 families who received information in clinic, 16 participated (one teen-only; one parents-only). Fifteen teens (12 to 18 years; four male) with Type 1 diabetes and 25 parents (15
Results
The major theme for teens focused on ineffective self-management. The two major parental themes were transfer of management responsibility and anticipatory worry, also addressed by some teens. Two themes related to health care transition: changes in health insurance and resources for T1DM management.
Discussion
Teens with T1DM and their parents know that achieving independent teen self-management is essential. However, teens and their parents had significant concerns relating to the developmental transition to adulthood and independent self-management. Teens in this study focused on the difficulty they were having attaining independent self-management. Parents, meanwhile, had concerns about the transfer of management responsibility to the teens and experienced anticipatory worry about negative
Conclusions
The process of shifting self-management responsibilities to AEAs with T1DM was stressful for teens and parents. Teens and parents were more concerned about the immediate ramifications of ineffective self-management. In addition, parents expressed worry about the potential long term consequences of poor glycemic control and the AEA's wellbeing after leaving home. Teens and parents had low confidence in the teen's abilities to transition to self-management of T1DM without parental oversight.
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by a New Investigator Seed Grant to Anne L. Ersig, from the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS).
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