Psychosocial Functioning in Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
Psychosocial Functioning in Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
Background: The often studied psychosocial correlates that relate to health outcomes in
 adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are factors such as self-efficacy, depression,
 distress, quality of life, and adherence. These psychosocial factors are not well-studied
 within a young adult (YA) population and the parents of YAs during the transition planning
 phase. Impact: This study aids program development for pre-transfer educational interventions
 to ensure more successful post-transfer health outcomes from both a patient and parent
 perspective. Methods: This longitudinal study is designed to characterize the psychosocial
 factors relevant for a population of YA with T1D. Data analyses of these psychosocial and
 transition readiness variables allow for understanding of prospective health outcomes for
 young adults with T1D during the transition process. Implications/Future Directions: From a
 clinical perspective, the outcomes of this feasibility study will be two-fold: (1) establish
 which of the clinical measures used in the study are related to meaningful health outcomes in
 this young adult population in order to determine future standardized assessments in the
 Diabetes Center and (2) determine which psychosocial constructs are relevant to health
 outcomes to then more fully develop the Diabetes Center's transition program interventions to
 improve functioning clinic-wide (e.g., group day sessions). Finally, it would be attractive
 to various National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorder (NIDDK) grant
 mechanisms to identify the relevant psychosocial measures that assess the psychosocial
 functioning of YA with diabetes after they transfer to adult care.
The purpose of this study is to assess how psychosocial functioning and transition readiness
 (health knowledge and self-reported health-related skills) of young adults (aged 18-24) with
 Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and their parents impact health outcomes before they transition to
 adult diabetes care. Transition of health care from pediatric to adult care systems is a
 complex process and is often a challenge for young adults. These transition barriers lead to
 gaps in healthcare, worsening of glycemic control, and increased hospitalizations/emergency
 room utilization. Initial program development efforts to prepare young adults for transition
 were developed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) based on best
 practice recommendations in the literature. The psychosocial correlates of health outcomes in
 this population are not well studied, though. Nor is it known whether these diabetes
 education interventions impact transition to adult care over time. The investigators will
 study how psychosocial factors (e.g., self-efficacy, depression, distress, quality of life,
 adherence, and risky behaviors) impact health outcomes (e.g., glycemic control) over a one
 year period, within the context of the current diabetes education transition program at
 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) for young adults with T1D and their
 parents.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Young Adults ages 18-24

 -  Current patients of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Diabetes
 Clinic

 -  Recently (< 4 months) completed the Readiness Assessment tool

 -  Planning to continue to receive diabetes services at CCHMC (i.e., not imminently being
 transferring their diabetes care to an adult provider) for the next 12 months.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Co-existing diagnosis of mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorder

 -  Not fluent in the English language.