Scholars' Repository

Prevalence of Diabetes Distress among Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Hedge, Vanessa Lee Prevalence of Diabetes Distress among Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. 2021. Radford University, Dissertation. Radford University Scholars' Repository.

PDF
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives.

Download (435kB)

Abstract

Abstract Adolescents with T1DM are at increased risk for psychological effects, including diabetes distress secondary to the constant demands of disease management combined with social and emotional stressors of adolescence. Evaluation of psychological impacts of disease management, including diabetes distress, are often not addressed during routine endocrinology visits. Early identification of diabetes distress is an essential step in the process of reducing distress. This non-experimental, quantitative research study used the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), a self-reported Likert survey, to determine the prevalence of diabetes distress among adolescents with T1DM. To capture levels of diabetes distress, participants of the study included males and females of all ethnicities, English-speaking, ages 13 to 17, a diagnosis of T1DM, and Internet access to complete the study survey. Evaluation of total distress and the subcategories of emotional, regime, interpersonal, and physician burden was completed. A total of 41 survey invitations was emailed to participants verbally expressing interest, with 28 participants responding (66%). All participants met inclusion criteria. Participants’ overall mean level of diabetes distress was 2.409 (SD = 0.853) and considered “moderate distress.” The emotional burden subcategory revealed the highest distress level at 3.214 (SD =1.449), thus considered “significant.” Findings revealed “minimal distress” in the subcategory of physician burden, at 1.133 (SD = 0.276). Among all participants, 61% reported diabetes distress levels greater than 2.0. Study findings provided information regarding the prevalence of diabetes distress among adolescents with T1DM receiving care in a pediatric endocrinology clinic in Southwest Virginia, which currently is not standard of care. Findings indicated that diabetes distress exists among most adolescents, and therefore, warrants routine screening as a change in practice. Keywords: adolescents, coping, diabetes distress, diabetes distress scale, type 1 diabetes

Item Type: Dissertation
Uncontrolled Keywords: diabetes distress, adolescents, type 1 diabetes mellitus
Subjects: R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
R Medicine > RT Nursing
Divisions: Radford University > School of Nursing
Date Deposited: 16 Nov 2021 01:25
Last Modified: 19 Apr 2023 17:04
URI: http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/714

Administrative Actions

View Item View Item