Close relationships and diabetes management across the lifespan: The good, the bad, and autonomy

Relationships are linked with positive and negative self-management and illness outcomes for individuals with type 1 diabetes. Explanations for these mixed associations have remained separated in psychosocial research in type 1 diabetes by relationship type (e.g. parent vs spouse) and individual's age (e.g. adolescence vs older adulthood). In this conceptual review, we present a novel perspective that close relationships across the lifespan may be beneficial for illness self-management when they support individuals' sense of autonomy, defined from a Basic Psychological Needs perspective. Processes of autonomy support are crucial for promoting illness management across all ages and relationship types.

Automated summary

This article examines the relationship between relationships and self-management and illness outcomes in individuals with type 1 diabetes, proposing a new perspective that close relationships may be beneficial for illness self-management when they support individuals' sense of autonomy from a Basic Psychological Needs perspective. Autonomy support processes are crucial for promoting illness management across all ages and relationship types.