Trait Mindfulness and Mindfulness Practices in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Descriptive and Comparative Study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Endocrinology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management in adolescents presents unique challenges.
• Mindfulness, encompassing trait mindfulness and practices, is increasingly explored for its potential health benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between trait mindfulness and mindfulness practices with demographic, clinical characteristics, and diabetes-related outcomes in adolescents with T1D.

Main Methods:

• A survey assessed demographics, clinical data, trait mindfulness, mindfulness practices, diabetes-specific stress, and diabetes self-management (DSM).
• Glycemic control (A1c) was obtained from medical records.
• T and chi-squared tests were used for comparative analyses.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with higher trait mindfulness showed increased insulin pump usage, reduced diabetes-specific stress, greater DSM, and lower A1c.
• Thirty percent of adolescents reported engaging in mindfulness practices.
• More types of mindfulness practices were associated with higher DSM scores.

Conclusions:

• Higher trait mindfulness and engagement in diverse mindfulness practices are associated with improved diabetes-related outcomes in adolescents with T1D.
• Further research into tailored mindfulness interventions for this population is warranted.