Executive Functioning and Self-Management in Adolescents with T1D (1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is There a Relationship Between Executive Function and Self-Management in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes?
IRAS ID
172397
Contact name
Eleanor Wells
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
This research aims to establish if a relationship exists between adolescents' executive function and self-management of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and glycaemic control. It hopes to identify if a relationship exists between adolescents' responsibility for diabetes care and executive functioning and to consider the role this may play in self-management.
T1D is a long-term disorder for which there is no cure. Individuals with T1D are tasked with self-managing their disease through exercise, a monitored diet and insulin administration in order to maintain a near-to-normal blood-glucose level. Failure to control blood-glucose levels can result in short and long-term health difficulties. Self-management and glycaemic control have been observed to decline during adolescence (Drotar et al., 2013).
Self-management requires planning, organisation, prioritisation, problem-solving and self-regulation; skills which fall into the category of executive function. Children with diabetes may be vulnerable to developing neuropsychological difficulties and there may be a link between impairments in executive functioning and poorer self-management (Miller et al., 2013).
82, 11-18 year olds and their parent/caregiver from two diabetes clinics in East Anglia will complete questionnaires on executive functioning, self-management and responsibility for diabetes care.
Improving our understanding of the relationship between executive functioning, responsibility for diabetes care, self-management and glycaemic control will enable us to develop ways to support parents and young people to better manage T1D.
Drotar, D, Ittenbach, R., Rohan, J., Gupta, R., Pendley, J., & Delamater, A. (2013) Diabetes management and glycaemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes: test of a predictive model. Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 36, 234-245.
Miller, M., Rohan, J., Delamater, A., Shroff-Pendley, J., Dolan, L., Reeves, G., & Drotar, D. (2013) Changes in executive function and self-management in adolescents with type 1diabetes: A growth curve analysis. Journal of Paediatric Psychology, 38, 18-29.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0389
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion