Young People with Diabetes and their Peers: An Exploratory Study of Peer Attitudes, Beliefs, Responses and Influences

Conducted by: Dr Joanna Brooks (Project Leader), Professor Nigel King and Dr Warren Gillibrand

Collaborators: Dr Fiona Campbell (Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust), Dr Nicola Kime (Leeds Metropolitan University), Professor Alison Wearden (University of Manchester) and Elizabeth Webster (Leeds Metropolitan University)

January 2013 – January 2014

Funding: Diabetes UK

Type 1 diabetes is amongst the most common form of chronic illness affecting young people in the United Kingdom. It is well recognised that the individuals' own management of their condition is crucial, however achieving optimal self-management of diabetes can be particularly challenging for adolescents and relationships with others can impact on this.

Peer relations are of increasing importance in adolescence, as young people with diabetes spend more time outside their home environment and look more towards their peers for information on behavioural norms. Researchers from the University of Huddersfield, in collaboration with other Universities, have identified a lack of existing knowledge of the role of peers in managing adolescent diabetes, particularly in terms of the opinions and responses of those peers themselves in dealing with the condition. In response to this, the research project will utilise interviews and focus groups to obtain qualitative data exploring attitudes and responses towards diabetes from the perspectives of young people with diabetes and their close friends, as well young people of the same age without any necessary personal prior experience or knowledge about the condition.

Previous research has suggested that effective interventions aimed at classroom peers could be highly useful in improving the wellbeing of adolescents with diabetes, and that better understanding of peer attitudes and beliefs are crucial if they are to be usefully incorporated into health and educational interventions. Findings from this research will assist in the development of an appropriate educational programme addressing the issues raised, aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of diabetes amongst young people.