Goal change and goal achievement for emerging adults across the pilot FAMS-T1D intervention for type 1 diabetes

Cynthia A Berg; Jessica H Mansfield; Silas B Boggess; Julia V Martin; Benjamin Creer; Torri K Peck; Deborah J Wiebe; Jonathan E Butner; Lindsay S Mayberry

doi:10.3389/fcdhc.2024.1297422

Goal change and goal achievement for emerging adults across the pilot FAMS-T1D intervention for type 1 diabetes

Front Clin Diabetes Healthc. 2024 Apr 15:5:1297422. doi: 10.3389/fcdhc.2024.1297422. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Cynthia A Berg¹, Jessica H Mansfield¹, Silas B Boggess¹, Julia V Martin¹, Benjamin Creer¹, Torri K Peck¹, Deborah J Wiebe², Jonathan E Butner¹, Lindsay S Mayberry³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
² Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, United States.
³ Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.

Abstract

Objective: Interventions for emerging adults (EAs) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) focus on goal setting, but little is known about how goal achievement relates to intervention outcomes. We examined how goals change, how goal achievement relates to diabetes outcomes, and identified barriers and facilitators to goal achievement.

Method: EAs with T1D (N=29, M age=21.6 years, 57% female) were coached monthly to set a behavioral goal across a 3-month feasibility trial. Coaching notes were qualitatively coded regarding type, complexity, and changes in goals. Goal achievement was measured via daily responses to texts. HbA1c, self-efficacy, diabetes distress, and self-care were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Results: EAs frequently set food goals (79%) in combination with other goals. EAs overwhelmingly changed their goals (90%), with most increasing goal complexity. Goal achievement was high (79% of days) and not affected by goal change or goal complexity. Goal achievement was associated with increases in self-efficacy and self-care across time. Qualitative themes revealed that aspects of self-regulation and social-regulation were important for goal achievement.

Conclusion: Meeting daily diabetes goals may enhance self-efficacy and self-care for diabetes.

Practice implications: Assisting EAs to reduce self-regulation challenges and enhance social support for goals may lead to better diabetes outcomes.

Keywords: emerging adulthood; goals; intervention; self regulation; social support; type 1 diabetes.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by a pilot and feasibility grant from the Vanderbilt Center for Diabetes Translation Research (P30 DK092986). CB, DW and LM are supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Disease R01 DK124719.