Background: Public health interventions for COVID-19 forced families to adopt changes in daily routines that affected children’s and adolescents’ psychological well-being. In youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), psychological symptoms may compromise glycemic control and outcomes; however, evidence of improved glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1D emerged early during the pandemic. This qualitative study aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected adolescents’ with T1D routines, experiences, T1D management, and psychological well-being. Methods: 24 adolescents, aged 15–18 years, with T1D, joined focus-group discussions during the diabetes summer camp. Word frequency analysis and thematic analysis were conducted on adolescents’ narratives. The average frequencies of use of words related to COVID-19 and to T1D were compared by t-test. Results: Word frequency analysis identified “friends”, “family”, and “home” as the most recurrent terms. Seven themes were highlighted: (1) COVID-19 and T1D; (2) emotional reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) changes in daily life; (4) feelings of loss; (5) coping with the COVID-19 pandemic; (6) the COVID-19 pandemic as opportunity; (7) return to (new) normality. COVID-19 related words were on average more frequent than words referring to T1D. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic may have represented a more stressful condition for adolescents with T1D, facing additional challenges compared to their healthy peers. Findings offer directions to the diabetes care team for customized interventions while the effects of the pandemic on adolescents’ health continue.
Background: The global prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents has increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health problems may compromise glycemic control in young people with type 1 diabetes; however, evidence of improved glycemic control in adolescents with T1D appeared early during the pandemic. This qualitative study aimed to provide a more in-depth understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected adolescents with type 1 diabetes routines, experiences, T1D management, behaviors, and mental health. Methods: 24 adolescents, aged 15-18 years, with DM1, joined the discussion of focus groups in the context of the summer camp for diabetes. Word frequency and thematic analysis were conducted on adolescents’ narratives. Results: The word Frequency Analysis identified 'friends', 'family', and 'home' as the most frequent terms. Seven themes were identified: (1) COVID-19 and T1D; (2) emotional reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) changes in daily life; (4) feelings of loss; (5) coping with the COVID-19 pandemic; (6) the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity; (7) return to (new) normality. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic may have represented a more stressful condition for adolescents with DM1, facing additional challenges compared to their healthy peers. The results offer directions to the diabetes care team for a customized intervention while the consequences of the pandemic on adolescents’ health continue.
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