Establishing a model to assess the effects of school support and self-care behaviors on life satisfaction in adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Life satisfaction is associated with positive development in adolescents. Understanding a path model of life satisfaction can help healthcare providers design interventions to improve positive development in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to construct a model that assesses the effects of school support and self-care behaviors on life satisfaction in adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Taiwan.


METHODS
This study used a cross-sectional design. One hundred and thirty-nine adolescents aged 10-18 years and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes were recruited. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed perceived school support, self-care behaviors, and life satisfaction. The hypothesized model was tested using structural equation modeling.


RESULTS
School support significantly and directly affected self-care behaviors (β = .46, p = .022) and life satisfaction (β = .39, p = .034), self-care behaviors directly affected life satisfaction (β = .56, p = .048), and school support indirectly affected life satisfaction (β = .26, p = .015) through the mediation of self-care behaviors. The fix indices were as follows: χ2 = 8.141, df = 11, p = .701, goodness of fit index = .984, normed fit index = .949, and root mean square residual = .001. The model explained 66.1% of total life satisfaction variance.


CONCLUSIONS
School support and self-care behaviors positively influence the life satisfaction of adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Improvements in school support and self-care behaviors are necessary to improve life satisfaction in this vulnerable group.
1MSN, RN, School Nurse, Kaohsiung Municipal Nam-Tze High School, and Doctoral Student, School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University 2PhD, RN, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology 3PhD, RN, Professor, School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University.
Shan-Mei
SM
Tang
Shu-Wen
SW
Chen
Ruey-Hsia
RH
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012572:School Health Services; D012573:School Nursing; D012574:Schools; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan