Involvement in Health Behaviors Among Youth With Diabetes

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine involvement in a broad range of health behaviors among adolescents and young adults with diabetes. METHODS The sample consisted of 107 adolescents and young adults (12 to 24 years old) with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Participants were asked to report involvement in health-enhancing, health-compromising, and diabetes mismanagement behaviors. RESULTS The participants reported low levels of health-compromising behaviors and high levels of health-enhancing behaviors. Females reported significantly higher levels of diabetes mismanagement than males. Males in late adolescence (18 to 24 years) reported significantly higher levels of health-compromising behaviors than males in early (12 to 14 years) and middle (15 to 17 years) adolescence. Females in late adolescence (1 8 to 24 years) reported significantly higher levels of health-compromising behaviors than females in early adolescence (12 to 14 years). CONCLUSIONS Diabetes educators who work with youth may want to assess all of these health behaviors, keeping in mind age and gender differences.