1010-P: Diabetes Distress in Younger vs. Older Emerging Adults: Confirmation of Content Validity of the Problem Areas in Diabetes—Emerging Adult Survey (PAID-EA)

The developmental stage of emerging adulthood covers a wide age span (ages 18-30 years) with potential for differing emotional burdens for those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) . To further confirm the content validity of the PAID-EA and to investigate differences between younger and older emerging adults, item responses on the newly developed, previously validated PAID-EA survey were examined by age group. Emerging adults (N=287) with T1D completed online measures of diabetes distress, depressive symptomology, and the PAID-EA. The PAID-EA has 25 items and uses a 5 point Likert-type response scale with options ranging from agree to disagree. The sample was split into 2 age groups: younger emerging adults (ages 18-24, N=143) and older emerging adults (ages 25-30, N=122) . Self-reported HbA1c was significantly worse in younger vs. older emerging adults (7.4% vs. 6.8%, p<.001) . Other demographic variables and total scores on measures were similar between age groups. Only 3 items on the PAID-EA differed by age group with younger emerging adults endorsing more diabetes distress: (1) Item 6: “I worry about being able to socialize because of how alcohol affects my blood sugar” (p=.03) , (2) Item 7: “I worry that a new romantic partner will see my diabetes devices or supplies” (p=.04) , (3) Item 25: I feel like I am trying my hardest to take care of diabetes, but it never works” (p=.02) . Experimentation with alcohol and intimacy with new partners may be experienced differently for younger compared with older emerging adults. Intense feelings of burnout and failure may also differ; this finding requires further exploration. Though emerging adulthood spans more than a decade, perceptions of the emotional burden of living with T1D appear consistent for the younger and older age groups, confirming the content validity of the PAID-EA throughout emerging adulthood.