Exploring diabetes-related stigma in adolescence: A critical review

Abstract

Background: Stigma experiences challenge Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) adolescents. Such an impact causes complications in their self-management behaviour and identity formation.
Aim: To critically synthesise, analyse, interpret and reflect on research regarding the experiences of T1DM adolescents and stigma through identifying the types of stigma experienced and the impact they have on T1DM adolescents.
Method: Three scholarly databases were used to identify scientific data, which was subjected to a screening process using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method of extraction and analysis. One hundred and nine articles were scanned, yet 14 eligible articles were included in the review. Using thematic analysis, the experiences of T1DM adolescents and stigma were consolidated, improving our understanding of the interactive nature of stigma.
Results: T1DM adolescents experience social, enacted, internal and self-stigma. These experiences result in suboptimal T1DM self-management and the non-disclosure of a T1DM diagnosis. Negative effects associated with stigma experiences are linked to challenges in T1DM identity integration and decreased wellness. A diagram was developed to explain the continuous interactive nature of stigma.
Conclusion: Stigma experiences may have a negative impact on adolescents in the absence of support structures and appraisal strategies.
Contribution: Within a primary care setting, practitioners are empowered to comprehend the stigmas experienced by T1DM adolescents. Through this knowledge, adolescents may be educated to cope with such experiences without compromising their T1DM self-management or their psychosocial development. Academically, the model can assist future researchers in understanding the relationships that exist between stigmas while informing opportunities for interventions in curbing the effects of stigma.