title: Disparities in social support systems for youths with type 1 diabetes.
abstract: IN BRIEF Low socioeconomic status (SES) is consistently identified as a major risk factor for poor health outcomes in youths with type 1 diabetes, yet little is known about the social factors that yield such disparities. This study used survey research to examine the role of SES by focusing on differential resourcing in social support systems for youths with type 1 diabetes and their parents/caregivers. We identified significant inequalities in social support systems and found that parents from lower-income households engage in few coping activities and rarely identify a primary care provider as the main point of contact when facing a diabetes-related problem. Our findings underscore the need to better connect low SES families to diabetes-specific professional resourcing and to raise awareness about the importance of extracurricular activities as a form of social support for youths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Policy and the Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL ; Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: Ashby F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: Desmond A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Cathryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: Janet H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Silverstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: Henry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rohrs