Transitioning Through College With Diabetes: Themes Found in Online Forums

Abstract

Objective: Content analysis of Internet-based diabetes forum text was used to examine the experiences encountered by students with diabetes transitioning into and through college. Participants: Forum posts (N = 238) regarding attending college with diabetes were collected and analyzed. Methods: Thematic coding was used to identify prominent topics, followed by analysis of theme distribution across college transitional stages. Three students with diabetes were recruited to review results and corroborate findings. Results: Twenty thematic categories were identified. Preparation for college involved efforts to move toward autonomous diabetes management. Transitioning in was marked by adjusting to a college lifestyle, then working to manage issues such as busy schedules and alcohol use as continuing students, and turning attention toward future career options and finances while transitioning out. Conclusions: As they move into and through college, students with diabetes negotiate developmental and diabetes-specific tasks within an environment that presents unique logistical, lifestyle, and psychological challenges.

Keywords:

• chronic illness
• diabetes management
• health education

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Jessica Day, Luke Russell, and Shawn Flanagan for their valuable contributions to this study. Portions of this study were presented at the 6th Conference on Emerging Adulthood, October 11, 2013, in Chicago, Illinois.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States and received approval from the University of Missouri Institutional Review Board.

NOTE

For comments and further information, address correspondence to Russell D. Ravert, PhD, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Missouri, 314 Gentry, Columbia, MO 65211, USA (e-mail: [email protected]).