Objective: To determine mediators of 12-month outcomes of Internet interventions for youth with type 1 diabetes transitioning to adolescence.
Methods: In this multisite clinical trial, 320 youth were randomized to one of two Internet-based interventions: Coping skills (TEENCOPE™) or diabetes education (Managing Diabetes). Mediators of the interventions' effects on glycosylated hemoglobin and quality of life were examined. Data were collected at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months.
Results: Self-efficacy mediated treatment effects on quality of life in both interventions. For TEENCOPE™, stress reactivity, primary control coping, and secondary control coping mediated treatment effects, whereas for Managing Diabetes, social acceptance mediated treatment effects. There were no significant effects of either intervention on glycosylated hemoglobin.
Conclusions: 2 Internet interventions for youth with type 1 diabetes resulted in improved quality of life by different mechanisms, suggesting components of both diabetes education and coping skills may help to achieve better outcomes in youth with type 1 diabetes.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00684658.
Keywords: coping skills; intervention studies; quality of life; type 1 diabetes mellitus.