Communication and Coping: Addressing Mothers' Needs to Improve Outcomes in Adolescents with T1D

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SUMMARY The impact of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19, and efforts to contain and mitigate the effects of the virus on health and psychosocial outcomes is unknown. It is likely to be more severe in populations already at risk for adverse behavioral health outcomes, increasing problems among already distressed families managing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Our ongoing randomized clinical trial (R01DK11545, Communication and Coping: Addressing Mothers' Needs to Improve Outcomes in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes) offers a unique opportunity to study the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing. We propose to build on the existing project by leveraging our current sample to collect more detailed information about the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing requirements on adolescents' diabetes management and maternal stress and coping. We will achieve these aims by adding survey items to assess the impact of COVID-19 and conducting qualitative interviews with mother-adolescent dyads who are experiencing low, moderate, and high impact of COVID. By following 40 dyads over time, we will learn how new routines and health behaviors are sustained or discontinued when social distancing requirements are reduced. In addition, we will assess how mothers' experiences of COVID-19 affect their coping, social support, and distress. The study will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team, consisting of Sarah Jaser, PhD, a pediatric psychologist, and two collaborators: Lindsay Mayberry, PhD, a family and community psychologist who uses mixed methods to study family support in diabetes, and Laurie Novak, PhD, a medical health anthropologist with expertise in assessing the systems used in managing chronic health conditions and how they are maintained or disrupted by disasters. The proposed study has the potential to inform our understanding of how COVID-19 and social distancing influences maternal distress and family diabetes management, which has important clinical and research implications. Results from this study may be used to promote the most adaptive coping and parenting strategies during times of uncertainty.