Coping with type 1 diabetes through emerging adulthood: Longitudinal associations with perceived control and haemoglobin A1c

Objective: This study, which is part of a larger longitudinal study focusing on the biopsychosocial functioning of emerging adults with type 1 diabetes, examined how perceived personal control, coping and HbA 1c relate to one another over time. Design and main outcome measures: Emerging adults with...

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Published in:	Psychology & health 2016-05, Vol.31 (5), p.622-635
Main Authors:	Rassart, Jessica, Luyckx, Koen, Oris, Leen, Goethals, Eveline, Moons, Philip, Weets, Ilse
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Adaptation, Psychological Adolescent Adult Attitude to Health coping Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - psychology emerging adulthood Female Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis HbA1c Health Sciences Humans Hälsovetenskaper Internal-External Control longitudinal Longitudinal Studies Male perceived control Psychology Psykologi Surveys and Questionnaires type 1 diabetes Young Adult
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Summary:	Objective: This study, which is part of a larger longitudinal study focusing on the biopsychosocial functioning of emerging adults with type 1 diabetes, examined how perceived personal control, coping and HbA 1c relate to one another over time. Design and main outcome measures: Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (18-30 years old) participated in a two-wave longitudinal study spanning five years (N = 164 at Time 1). At both times, patients completed questionnaires on perceived control and coping (i.e. diabetes integration, avoidant coping and passive resignation). HbA 1c values were obtained from treating clinicians. We investigated the directionality of effects using cross-lagged path analysis. Results: Higher HbA 1c values predicted relative decreases in diabetes integration and increases in avoidant coping five years later. Feeling less in control over diabetes predicted the use of passive coping over time. Passive coping predicted a relative decrease in perceived control five years later. Conclusion: These findings indicate that tackling poor glycaemic control is not only important to avoid medical complications but also to prevent patients from resorting to more avoidant coping strategies. Furthermore, given the longitudinal interplay between perceived control and passive coping, it is important that intervention efforts include both cognitive and behavioural components to be effective.
ISSN:	0887-0446 1476-8321 1476-8321