The role of partner relationships in the young person's adherence to the diabetes self-care regime.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the role of partner relationships in the young person's experience of diabetes. It was predicted that those people reporting a better quality relationship would report greater social support and better diabetes management.


METHODS
Fifty young adults with diabetes and their spouse/partner completed web-based questionnaires.


RESULTS
A better quality relationship did not correlate with high reported levels of social support or with better diabetes management. Path analysis demonstrated, however, that for males with diabetes high reported quality of relationship predicted better diabetes management.


CONCLUSIONS
Relationship quality does not generally predict better diabetes management; however, there may be a unique feature to good relationships that support men's diabetes self-care.
Rachel Gillibrand, Faculty of Applied Sciences, UWE, Bristoll, UK. Rachel.Gillibrand@uwe.ac.uk
Rachel
R
Gillibrand
Jim
J
Stevenson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012648:Self Care; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires