Attachment security as a predictor of blood glucose control in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes, when the roles of additional psychological factors are considered

Introduction: Key studies have found an association between attachment style and poor diabetes outcomes in the adult diabetic populations. Specifically insecure attachment has been found to predict elevated glycated haemoglobin levels (HbA1c). Further studies have indicated that substance use and mental health difficulties also influence HbA1c. These factors have been looked at individually making it difficult to directly assess the overall effect of attachment on HbA1c and the potential mediating effects of substance use and mental health. The adolescent population has not been considered in studies examining these relationships. This study compares attachment security, level of substance use, interpersonal problems, anxiety and depression in relation to their role in blood glucose control in an adolescent population with Type 1 diabetes. Method: A quantitative, cross sectional, questionnaire design was employed to examine the role of the aforementioned factors in relation to HbA1c level. The target population included all patients aged 14 years to 18 years, inclusive, who attended for review at Diabetes Clinics across Lothian. Participants had a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes for at least one year and no additional diagnoses of mental health disorder or other chronic condition. At the clinic patients were approached and asked to complete a set of self report questionnaires. Measures of attachment were adapted versions of the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) and the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ). Interpersonal problems were assessed using the short version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessed levels of anxiety and depression. The Adolescent Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory- A2 (SASSI-A2) was used to measure substance use. Blood glucose levels (HbA1c%) were obtained from clinic staff. A total of 88 participants returned completed questionnaires (response rate 79.3%). Results: When all correlations between predictors and HbA1c were examined, a negative correlation was found between attachment and HbA1c level. A positive correlation was found between anxiety and HbA1c level. Multiple regression analyses examined the relationship between attachment security and HbA1c before analysing additional predictors in the same model. No significant relationships emerged however the multiple regression model was not a significant fit for the data. Path Analysis considered all relationships between variables simultaneously while also providing information on how the model fits the data. Attachment security directly related to HbA1c levels when the contributions of gender, interpersonal problems and substance use were considered. Anxiety and depression did not predict HbA1c nor did they contribute to any other relationships with HbA1c. Interpersonal problems had a direct relationship with HbA1c when the contribution of substance use and attachment were considered. Conclusion: Attachment predicts HbA1c. The nature of this relationship is further understood when the contribution of additional psychological variables are considered. Methodological issues, clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed