Diabetes-specific friend support in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes: Does satisfaction with support matter?

Abstract

Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) must adhere to a complex treatment regimen to prevent health complications. Friends may provide diabetes-specific support to help youth manage diabetes, but evidence on whether youth benefit from diabetes-specific friend support is inconclusive. The present study first investigated whether satisfaction with friend support was linked to psychological distress and diabetes management. Second, it was investigated whether self-esteem mediated these relations. To this end, 324 Dutch-speaking emerging adults (17-28 years) with T1D completed questionnaires on diabetes-specific friend support, self-esteem, diabetes-specific distress, depressive symptoms, and self-care. HbA1c values were obtained from patients' physicians. Receiving diabetes-specific support from friends was associated with more diabetes-specific distress, but not for youth who were satisfied with the received support. Diabetes-specific friend support was not associated with other outcomes.Self-esteem did not mediate these relations. These results suggest that associations between diabetes-specific friend support and diabetes management are limited and that support satisfaction should be taken into consideration when examining the role of friend support for youth with T1D.

Beyond Therapeutic Adherence: Alternative Pathways for Understanding Medical Treatment in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

“…A chronic illness such as T1DM requires a considerable variety of therapeutic behaviors, such as counting carbohydrate, checking blood glucose multiple times a day, and administering insulin in response to blood glucose levels [ 42 ]. Some authors refer to treatment as a difficult, multi-step, complex, intensive, demanding, and highly visible regimen to others, which requires the adoption of a diet that keeps adequate glucose levels and the maintenance of physical activity [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ].…”

Topical Review: Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: What Is the Role of Peer Support?

“…Participants rate behaviors on frequency of occurrence and satisfaction. Utilizing the DSSQ-Fr, one study showed peer support was related to more diabetes distress-unless youth were satisfied with the support received (Raymaekers et al, 2021), one study showed peer support was unrelated to self-care or glycemic stability (Doe, 2018), and one study found the relation of diabetes distress to poor glycemic stability was stronger for those with high peer support (Hains et al, 2007). These findings are striking because no study found clear links of diabetes peer support to healthy functioning.…”