678-P: Impact of COVID-19 on Black Youth with T1D and Their Parents

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to financial and psychosocial stressors, particularly among individuals from minoritized groups. The goal of the current study was to provide a description of the financial and emotional burdens experienced by Black youth with T1D and their parents during the pandemic.

Method: Data for the present study were obtained from a subset of families participating in a clinical trial providing an eHealth intervention to parents of Black adolescents with T1D. Adolescents (n = 63), young adults (n = 9), and their parents (n = 65) completed questionnaires on their experiences with emotional, social, and financial stressors during the pandemic.

Results: Parents reported changes in occupational and financial stress during the pandemic. Nearly half (45.2%) reported reduced work hours, involuntary job loss, or voluntary job loss to care for a family member. A third (31.2%) reported significant changes in household income, with 10.9% of parents indicating that they were unable to meet their basic needs, such as paying bills. Many (50%) parents reported that their child missed a diabetes-related appointment; of these, 59.4% reported missing an appointment for a pandemic-related reason (e.g. clinic was closed due to COVID; family canceled appointment to avoid being around other people). Adolescents and young adults reported a variety of emotional responses to the pandemic, including moderate to extreme stress (46%), anger (28%), and anxiety (36%).

Discussion: Families of Black youth with T1D experienced financial and emotional burden during the pandemic. Many also experienced disruptions in their diabetes care, as evidenced by missed appointments. Future studies should explore the relationship between these burdens and subsequent diabetes management.