Abstract

GRECA, Annette M. La  and  THOMPSON, Kristen M.. Family and friend support for adolescents with diabetes . Aná. Psicológica [online]. 1998, vol.16, n.1, pp.101-113. ISSN 0870-8231.

The present paper describes two studies of social support provided by family members and friends for adolescents' diabetes care. Using a structured interview, 74 middle-income and 62 socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents with diabetes described the ways that family members and friends provided support for several aspects of diabetes care (insulin shots, blood glucose monitoring, eating proper meals, exercise, and «feeling good about their diabetes»). In both samples, family members provided more support than did friends for diabetes care, especially for daily management tasks; friends provided considerable emotional support for diabetes. Few differences in support levels were observed as a function of the adolescents' socioeconomic status. However, more of the low-income adolescents had friends who did not provide any support for their diabetes care. Implications of the findings are discussed with respect to encouraging parents to remain involved in adolescents' treatment, and involving peers as supportive companions for the lifestyle aspects of adolescents' diabetes care.

Keywords : Adolescents; family support; peer support; diabetes care; adherence; friends.

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