Abstract

Session presented on Monday, November 9, 2015 and Tuesday, November 10, 2015:

Background/Purpose: Approximately three million Americans have type 1 diabetes, which is the most common childhood metabolic disease. Transitional events among emerging adults from late adolescence to late twenties may cause physiological and psychological difficulties, especially for those with type 1 diabetes. Although research is more prevalent in the early and mid-adolescent age groups, there is a dearth in the literature among the emerging adults age group. This vulnerable population undergoes a critical transitional time with an overwhelming sense of developing independence. This critical phase may impact the trajectory of type 1 diabetes management not only physiologically, but also psychologically throughout one's lifespan. This integrative literature review evaluates the current state of the science of emerging adults with type 1 diabetes during transitional events.

Methods: A comprehensive multi-step literature search (published 1994-2014) of transition, type 1 diabetes, and young adults, which indexed in the CINAHL, Pubmed, PsychINFO and Cochrane databases was performed. A sample of 36 research and non-research reports met the inclusion criteria. All 36 articles were included in the review. A systematic and iterative approach was used to extract and reduce the data to draw conclusions.

Results: This analysis revealed that the most crucial transitional events among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes are those that promote independence, including attending college, leaving parents' home, obtaining new employment, and transferring from a pediatric to adult care. Stress was a common theme among emerging adults, especially those in college with erratic eating, sleeping, and course schedules. Balancing college living and diabetes management is essential but non-existent in the literature.

Conclusions & Implications: Despite the small sample sizes and descriptive research methods, this review suggests some barriers and facilitators for transitioning emerging young adults with type 1 diabetes. Further research including interventional studies of educating emerging young adults is essential to aid in the transition to college, which may improve diabetes management and quality of life.

Description

43rd Biennial Convention 2015 Theme: Serve Locally, Transform Regionally, Lead Globally.`

Author Details

Jennifer Saylor, PhD, RN, APRN-BC

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Type 1 Diabetes, Young Adults, Transitioning to Adult Care

Conference Name

43rd Biennial Convention

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Conference Year

2015

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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Integrative review of the transitions of emerging young adults with type 1 diabetes

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Session presented on Monday, November 9, 2015 and Tuesday, November 10, 2015:

Background/Purpose: Approximately three million Americans have type 1 diabetes, which is the most common childhood metabolic disease. Transitional events among emerging adults from late adolescence to late twenties may cause physiological and psychological difficulties, especially for those with type 1 diabetes. Although research is more prevalent in the early and mid-adolescent age groups, there is a dearth in the literature among the emerging adults age group. This vulnerable population undergoes a critical transitional time with an overwhelming sense of developing independence. This critical phase may impact the trajectory of type 1 diabetes management not only physiologically, but also psychologically throughout one's lifespan. This integrative literature review evaluates the current state of the science of emerging adults with type 1 diabetes during transitional events.

Methods: A comprehensive multi-step literature search (published 1994-2014) of transition, type 1 diabetes, and young adults, which indexed in the CINAHL, Pubmed, PsychINFO and Cochrane databases was performed. A sample of 36 research and non-research reports met the inclusion criteria. All 36 articles were included in the review. A systematic and iterative approach was used to extract and reduce the data to draw conclusions.

Results: This analysis revealed that the most crucial transitional events among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes are those that promote independence, including attending college, leaving parents' home, obtaining new employment, and transferring from a pediatric to adult care. Stress was a common theme among emerging adults, especially those in college with erratic eating, sleeping, and course schedules. Balancing college living and diabetes management is essential but non-existent in the literature.

Conclusions & Implications: Despite the small sample sizes and descriptive research methods, this review suggests some barriers and facilitators for transitioning emerging young adults with type 1 diabetes. Further research including interventional studies of educating emerging young adults is essential to aid in the transition to college, which may improve diabetes management and quality of life.