Emerging Ideas. Health Technology Use and Perceptions of Romantic Relationships by Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

• Published date: 01 December 2021
• Author: Jeremy B. Yorgason,Jennifer Saylor,Michelle Ness,Mallory Millett,Anna Floreen
• Date: 01 December 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12537

J B. Y Brigham Young University

J S  M N University of Delaware

M M Brigham Young University

A F College Diabetes Network

Emerging Ideas.

Health Technology Use and Perceptions of

Romantic Relationships by Emerging Adults With

Type 1 Diabetes

Objective: Explore perceptions of health tech-

nology use among emerging adults with type

1 diabetes (T1D) and their interactions with

romantic partners about their diabetes.

Background: Dating and the formation of

romantic relationships are key features of

emerging adulthood. However, emerging adults

with T1D may experience dating relationships

in a unique way due to managing T1D. Health

technology use may play an important role in

those dating relationships.

Method: Twelve emerging adults with T1D

(average time since diagnosis =9years) par-

ticipated in two focus groups during a weekend

program with the College Diabetes Network in

Boston, MA.

Findings: Qualitative analysis revealed an

overarching context of health technology use

in relation to dating relationships among

emerging adults with T1D. Within this context,

School of Family Life, 2079 JFSB, Brigham YoungUniver-

sity, Provo,UT 84604 (jeremy_yorgason@byu.edu).

Key Words: chronic illness and families, dating, emerging

adulthood, close relationships.

three descriptive themes emerged: sensitivity

to the perceptions of others, an emphasis on

boundaries and independence, and T1D partner

support.

Conclusion: Technology plays a central role in

the way that emerging adults with T1D inter-

act with romantic partners. Insulin pumps, body

sites, continuous glucose monitoring devices,

and the sharing of technology all factor into

decisions and methods of concealing and dis-

closing and the development of digitally sup-

ported intimacy.

Implications for Emerging Ideas: T1D may

place individuals in unique circumstances within

romantic relationships.Professionals could edu-

cate those with T1D about technological and

social aspects of T1D management.

Emerging adulthood is a time of many exciting

transitions, often including dating and the for-

mation of romantic relationships (Arnett, 2015).

Individuals bring aspects of their own history

into new relationships. Those with a chronic

illness, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), may

experience unique perceptions and relationship

Family Relations 70 (December 2021): 1427–1434 1427

DOI:10.1111/fare.12537