Peer relationships and diabetes: retrospective and ecological momentary assessment approaches.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of positive and negative aspects of friendship to psychological well-being, self-care behavior, and blood glucose control and to determine whether these relations were moderated by gender.


METHODS
Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (n = 76) completed baseline measures of friendship quality, depressive symptoms, and self-care. A measure of metabolic control was obtained from medical records. Adolescents also tested blood glucose periodically over the course of 4 days and completed ecological momentary assessments of interpersonal interactions and mood using PDAs.


METHODS
For between-groups analyses, primary outcomes were depressive symptoms, self-care behavior, and metabolic control. For within-groups analyses, primary outcomes were mood and blood glucose.


RESULTS
Results showed baseline reports of peer conflict but not support were associated with outcomes, particularly among girls. Conflict was more strongly related to poor metabolic control for girls than boys. Momentary interaction enjoyment and interaction upset were associated with mood, but were unrelated to blood glucose. Aggregate indices of enjoyable interactions were associated with fewer depressive symptoms and better self-care-especially among girls.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the positive and negative aspects of peer relationships are related to the psychological well-being and physical health of adolescents with diabetes.
Helgeson
Vicki S
VS
Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. vh2e@andrew.cmu.edu
Lopez
Lindsey C
LC
Kamarck
Thomas
T
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose