Factors That Affect Quality of Life in Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

The purpose of this study is to examine in young adults (18-35 years) with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) factors known to be associated with quality of life: fear of complications (including hypoglycemia), self-efficacy for diabetes self-management, and self-management of diabetes.

Participants ( N = 180) completed online a Demographic/General Health Survey, Diabetes Quality of Life Measure, Hypoglycemia Fear Scale, Fear of Complications Questionnaire, Diabetes Behavior Rating Scale, Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Self-Management, and Diabetes Knowledge Test.

Multiple linear regression showed that quality of life was significantly associated with fear of hypoglycemia, fear of complications, and self-efficacy. Quality of life was not associated with either diabetes self-management behaviors or diabetes knowledge.

Although participants demonstrated appropriate self-management behaviors and moderate self-efficacy, on the Diabetes Quality of Life Instrument, they reported high dissatisfaction with the burden that diabetes places on their families and the amount of time it takes to manage their diabetes. Quality of life was significantly positively correlated with fear of hypoglycemia and fear of complications. Quality of life was significantly negatively correlated with self-efficacy. These observations suggest that, as fear of hypoglycemia and fear of complications increase, quality of life decreases, and as self-efficacy increases, so does quality of life. Thus, fear of hypoglycemia, fear of complications, and self-efficacy may be appropriate primary outcomes to use in interventions designed to improve quality of life in young adults with T1DM. Findings from this study extend our understanding of being a young adult with T1DM.