2 weeks Ago By George Citroner
Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes who are confident in their ability to manage tasks have a better handle on controlling their blood sugar, a study published in the International Journal of Psychiatry finds. Specialists in pediatrics, endocrinology, and nutrition at Reina Sofía University Hospital and researchers at the University of Córdoba in Spain found that self-efficacy—the belief in one’s ability to succeed—can lead to behavioral changes that enhance glycemic control to keep blood sugar levels within their target range. Self-efficacy Affective balance Perceived social support Self-esteem Quality of life The study also indicated that while the relationship between self-efficacy and glycemic control was more evident among adolescents, it was less pronounced in preadolescent children.
Diseases like diabetes “require changes in behavior, in the form of adherence to treatment, a balanced diet, and physical activity,” study author Bárbara Luque stated in the press release. “If you add to this adolescents’ efforts to build their own identity, and to feel integrated into a group of equals, a situation of stress can be generated affecting one’s self-management of the disease,” she added. According to the researchers, having high self-confidence helps with the management of the disease itself but also works as a coping mechanism, helping “to reduce the stress and depression often associated with chronic disease,” they wrote.
The research team plans to develop psycho-educational interventions aimed at improving self-efficacy among adolescents. The goal is to incorporate a psychosocial perspective into patient care to enhance quality of life for young diabetes patients. “Overall, our results show how in adolescents, the maintenance of high confidence in the ability to manage [Type 1 diabetes] can help adolescents persevere in the face of adversity and strive to follow clinical indications and thus maintain glycaemic control indicators within healthy parameters over time,” the researchers concluded.
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