Communal coping and glycemic control: Daily patterns among young adult couples with type 1 diabetes.

Introduction: Young adulthood is a time when persons with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) become more fully responsible for diabetes management. Establishing healthy diabetes routines during this period is foundational for successful management across adulthood. Although partner support is generally considered helpful in T1D management, less is known about specific partner behaviors that could benefit glucose levels. The aim of this study was to explore associations between communal coping behaviors and T1D glucose management.

Method: During 2018-2020, 23 young married opposite-sex couples (M_age = 25.7 years), wherein one spouse had T1D, completed daily measures of communal coping for 9 consecutive days. Daily average glucose and time-in-range were computed from the person with T1D's glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor.

Results: Multilevel model results suggested that higher time-in-range on a given day was predicted by reports of lower daily spousal instrumental support, lower overprotective and controlling behaviors, and by higher emotional support. Controlling spousal behavior on one day was associated with higher time-in-range the next day. At the same time, patient reports of higher average spousal controlling behavior (across all days) were associated with lower time-in-range and higher average glucose. Average glucose was also predicted by communal coping behaviors (especially within-person higher instrumental support), yet results were less robust after covariates were considered.

Discussion: Some young romantic partners may engage in behaviors that are associated with higher average blood glucose and lower time-in-range for the person with T1D. Persons with T1D could communicate to their partners types of support that are helpful versus not. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).