Health-Compromising Behavior and Diabetes Mismanagement Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Diabetes

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between health-compromising behavior, age, gender, and diabetes mismanagement. METHODS: A total of 107 adolescents and young adults, 12 to 24 years old, with type 1 diabetes were asked to complete a health-compromising behavior scale and a diabetes mismanagement scale. RESULTS: Based upon participants' responses, the study population was divided into 2 different groups: those involved in health-compromising behavior and those not involved in such behavior. A multiple regression analysis was performed using age, gender, and health-compromising behavior as predictor variables and diabetes mismanagement as the outcome variable. Variables that accounted for significant variance in diabetes mismanagement were being female and being involved in health-compromising behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents and young adults with diabetes appear to be either involved or not involved in health-compromising behavior. Being female and being involved in health-compromising behavior were associated with diabetes mismanagement.