Talking about type 1 diabetes: understanding adolescents’ needs to have confident conversations.
Adolescents living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) often have to make tricky decisions about sharing their diagnosis with others such as deciding who to tell, what to share, and how to say it.
While sharing these experiences with others can help promote social support and wellbeing, many adolescents may be unsure of how to start these conversations or may worry about how others will respond.
A new research study conducted by Professor Jeneva Ohan and Dr Keely Bebbington aims to develop our understanding of how adolescents navigate these disclosure decisions, and how we can support them to feel more confident when talking to others about their diabetes.
This study will be commencing recruitment shortly, using online interviews to learn about adolescents’ concerns, experiences of, and support needs for sharing information about diabetes with people such as friends, peers, or teachers.
By improving our understanding of adolescents’ experiences, this study will act as the first step in the development of suitable support resources to help adolescents feel confident in their disclosure decisions.