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“I don't think either of us have really got over the diagnosis.” Caregiver perspectives on medical trauma in adolescent type 1 diabetes; a trauma-informed qualitative investigation

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a 'family illness'; diagnoses and management can be perceived as invasive or traumatic. Caregivers bear the brunt of the diagnostic shock, influencing their child's experience. Children and adolescents may grapple with the psychological effects of past/ongoing medical trauma. Additionally, adolescents may struggle with their mental health as they navigate tensions between caregiver involvement and their developmental need for autonomy.

Citation:
Coombs S, Paciente R, Lombardi K, Milroy H, Ohan J, Bebbington K, Roby HC, Taplin CE, Hanna N, Rose S, Woolard A. “I don't think either of us have really got over the diagnosis.” Caregiver perspectives on medical trauma in adolescent type 1 diabetes; a trauma-informed qualitative investigation. J Pediatr Nurs. 2026;88:22-33.

Keywords:
Adolescent; Caregivers; Diabetes mellitus, type 1; Mental health; Psychological trauma

Abstract:
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a 'family illness'; diagnoses and management can be perceived as invasive or traumatic. Caregivers bear the brunt of the diagnostic shock, influencing their child's experience. Children and adolescents may grapple with the psychological effects of past/ongoing medical trauma. Additionally, adolescents may struggle with their mental health as they navigate tensions between caregiver involvement and their developmental need for autonomy.