Communal Coping and Glycemic Control: Daily Patterns Among Young Adult Couples With Type 1 Diabetes
Date
2023-11-13
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Families, Systems & Health
Abstract
Introduction: Young adulthood is a time when persons with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) become more fully responsible for diabetes management. Establishing healthy diabetes routines during this period is foundational for successful management across adulthood. Although partner support is generally considered helpful in T1D management, less is known about specific partner behaviors that could benefit glucose levels. The aim of this study was to explore associations between communal coping behaviors and T1D glucose management. Method: During 2018–2020, 23 young married opposite-sex couples (Mage = 25.7 years), wherein one spouse had T1D, completed daily measures of communal coping for 9 consecutive days. Daily average glucose and time-in-range were computed from the person with T1D’s glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor. Results: Multilevel model results suggested that higher time-in-range on a given day was predicted by reports of lower daily spousal instrumental support, lower overprotective and controlling behaviors, and by higher emotional support. Controlling spousal behavior on one day was associated with higher time-in-range the next day. At the same time, patient reports of higher average spousal controlling behavior (across all days) were associated with lower time-in-range and higher average glucose. Average glucose was also predicted by communal coping behaviors (especially within-person higher instrumental support), yet results were less robust after covariates were considered. Discussion: Some young romantic partners may engage in behaviors that are associated with higher average blood glucose and lower time-in-range for the person with T1D. Persons with T1D could communicate to their partners types of support that are helpful versus not.
Public Significance Statement
This study advances the role of communal coping behaviors between young adults with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their romantic partner related to diabetes management. Support provided to young adults with T1D from their partners was associated with average glucose levels and time-in-range, which suggests that interventions that include partners to direct support efforts toward more beneficial forms of support may facilitate diabetes management.
Description
©American Psychological Association, 2023. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. The final article is available in Families, Systems & Health, upon publication, at: https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000857.
Keywords
communal coping, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, time-in-range, young adults
Citation
Yorgason, J. B., Noorda, N. M., Steeger, D., Saylor, J., Berg, C., Davey, A., Rellaford, S., Kirkham, D., Saunders, J., & Taylor, E. (2023). Communal coping and glycemic control: Daily patterns among young adult couples with type 1 diabetes.Families, Systems, & Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000857