Psychological support for adolescents with type 1 diabetes provided by adolescents with type 1 diabetes: The chat line experience.
Pediatr Diabetes 2019;
20:800-810. [PMID:
31173661 DOI:
10.1111/pedi.12873]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Age-specific preventive interventions by exploiting age-appropriate means are needed to effectively support adolescents with type 1 diabetes in facing illness and developmental-related difficulties. The provision of social support through a content analysis of messages posted on online conversations was examined.
METHODS
Participants and moderators' messages posted to an Italian online chat group for adolescents with type 1 diabetes were content analyzed using a social support behavior coding system.
RESULTS
Of 250 adolescents approached (aged 12-18), 161 (64.4%) agreed to participate. Seventeen thousand twenty-five individual posts (10 735 written by participants, 6290 by moderators) from 37 chat sessions were examined. Topics concerned management of the disease, diabetes-related problems, nutrition, and the emotional impact of diabetes. Social support was found in 30.64% of the messages (N = 5215). The frequency of supporting messages posted by participants was significantly higher than those written by moderators (X 2 = 20.025, P < .0001). Participants most frequently offered emotional (79.97%) and information support (16.21%), while moderators presented information (52.89%) and emotional support (34.56%).
CONCLUSIONS
How posting messages in an online group provides an opportunity for adolescents with type 1 diabetes to support each other and help health professionals to learn about the experiences of young individuals is discussed.
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