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Diabetes burnout among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes: a mixed methods investigation

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Abstract

Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated by the daily demands of diabetes management has been referred to as diabetes burnout. The goal of the study was to develop a measure of diabetes burnout and to link this measure to psychological health and diabetes outcomes. Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (n = 88, average age 27) completed an online questionnaire and an HbA1c assessment; a subset was interviewed by phone to obtain a more in-depth understanding of burnout. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three burnout domains: exhaustion, detachment, and powerlessness. Burnout was related to higher psychological distress, higher diabetes distress, and poorer diabetes outcomes. Burnout independently predicted higher HbA1c, independent of diabetes distress. Qualitative interviews revealed that participants defined burnout in terms of exhaustion and powerlessness and resolved burnout by acceptance and utilization of social resources. Prevention and intervention efforts might target resilience as a way to mitigate burnout.

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Funding

This research was supported by National Institutes of Health R01 DK060586.

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  1. Psychology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Vicki S. Helgeson

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  1. Vicki S. Helgeson
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Contributions

The author is grateful to Michele Joseph for interviewing the participants and to Abigail Vaughn who facilitated data collection and analysis, as well as the participants who persisted with this study. Contact information: Vicki S. Helgeson, Psychology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15,213, vh2e@andrew.cmu.edu.

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Correspondence to Vicki S. Helgeson.

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Helgeson, V.S. Diabetes burnout among emerging adults with type 1 diabetes: a mixed methods investigation. J Behav Med 44, 368–378 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-020-00198-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-020-00198-3

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