Self-Transcendence, Diabetes Self-Care, and Well-Being of Emerging Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes face challenges managing daily self-care while pursuing typical developmental milestones, which can lead to distress and reduced well-being. This study describes how self-transcendence—a natural human process of expanding personal boundaries—helps these individuals cope. Interviews with 29 emerging adults revealed that self-transcendence-inspired perspectives and behaviors supported their diabetes self-care and promoted a sense of well-being. The findings suggest that fostering self-transcendence may be a valuable resource for reducing vulnerability and improving health outcomes in this population.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are vulnerable to diabetes distress, decreased diabetes self-care, and decreased well-being due to simultaneously managing complex self-care demands and meeting developmental goals. Self-transcendence is an inherent human process that helps to mitigate vulnerability and promote a sense of well-being. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe the perspectives and behaviors of emerging adults with T1D that reflected self-transcendence and how this process facilitated their diabetes self-care. Twenty-nine emerging adults were interviewed and described self-transcendence inspired perspectives and behaviors that facilitated their diabetes self-care and promoted a sense of well-being. Self-transcendence serves as a potential resource for mitigating vulnerability in living with T1D and for enhancing positive health outcomes.