Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Patient Educ Couns. 2011 Nov;85(2):245-50. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2010.11.013. Epub 2010 Dec 15.
Previous community research has demonstrated the link between adult self-classification and health behaviors. The present study investigated the extent to which individuals with type 1 diabetes (ages 18-30 years) classified themselves as adults as compared with individuals without diabetes. Adult self-classification was examined in relation to illness coping and glycemic control.
A total of 194 patients and 287 control individuals participated. Adult self-classification was assessed using a single item, coping was assessed using the Diabetes Coping Measure, and glycemic control was determined by HbA(1c) values.
Compared with control participants, more patients classified themselves as adults. Furthermore, adult self-classification was positively related to glycemic control. Structural equation modeling indicated that coping mediated the relationship between adult self-classification and glycemic control.
Individuals with diabetes classified themselves as adults more often than did their peers without diabetes, possibly due to their need to master their lives when confronted with diabetes. Adult self-classification appeared to function as a resource for glycemic control through its relationship with specific coping strategies.
The present study underscores the need to assess adult self-classification in individuals with diabetes. Our findings call for a developmentally tailored transition from pediatric to adult care.
先前的社区研究已经证明了成年人自我分类与健康行为之间的联系。本研究调查了 18-30 岁的 1 型糖尿病患者与无糖尿病患者相比，自我归类为成年人的程度。成年人自我分类与疾病应对和血糖控制有关。
共有 194 名患者和 287 名对照者参与了本研究。采用单项评估成年人自我分类，采用糖尿病应对量表评估应对，通过糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）值确定血糖控制情况。
与对照组参与者相比，更多的患者将自己归类为成年人。此外，成年人自我分类与血糖控制呈正相关。结构方程模型表明，应对在成年人自我分类与血糖控制之间起中介作用。
与无糖尿病的同龄人相比，糖尿病患者更常将自己归类为成年人，这可能是因为他们在面对糖尿病时需要掌握自己的生活。成年人自我分类似乎通过与特定应对策略的关系，成为血糖控制的资源。
本研究强调了在糖尿病患者中评估成年人自我分类的必要性。我们的研究结果呼吁针对从儿科到成人护理的发展性过渡进行个性化的治疗。
