Communal Coping Intervention for Type 1 Diabetes

Overseen By Abigail Vaughn, B.A.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Carnegie Mellon University

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, Major chronic illness, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new method to help couples collaborate more effectively when one partner has Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). It includes a session where couples learn to view diabetes as a shared challenge and use "we-statements" to address it together. This method is called the Communal Coping Intervention. Participants receive daily text prompts for a week to help apply these lessons. Ideal candidates have had a T1D diagnosis for at least a year, live with a partner willing to participate, and have reliable internet access at home. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative strategies for managing T1D collaboratively.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on a coping intervention rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that this communal coping intervention is safe for couples dealing with Type 1 Diabetes?

Research shows that communal coping methods, especially for diabetes, are helpful and safe. Communal coping involves sharing the stress of an illness and working together to manage it. Studies have found that this approach leads to positive health outcomes. No evidence suggests any negative effects from these methods. Participants in communal coping often experience better mental and physical health. Overall, this approach appears safe and well-accepted. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Communal Coping Intervention for Type 1 Diabetes because it introduces a fresh approach by involving couples in the management of the condition. Unlike traditional treatments that focus on individual lifestyle changes and insulin management, this intervention emphasizes the power of shared experiences and teamwork, encouraging couples to view diabetes as a joint challenge. Through a unique mix of face-to-face sessions and daily text prompts, it enhances communication and collaboration between partners, potentially improving not only diabetes management but also relationship dynamics. This holistic approach is what sets the intervention apart and provides hope for more comprehensive support for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes.

What evidence suggests that the Communal Coping Intervention is effective for Type 1 Diabetes?

Research shows that when couples work together to handle stress, they can achieve better mental and physical health. In this trial, participants in the Communal Coping Intervention arm will join a program that helps couples manage type 1 diabetes more effectively by sharing responsibility. Both partners view diabetes as a joint challenge and support each other. Previous research suggests that this teamwork improves health by fostering cooperation and understanding between partners. This approach aims to enhance teamwork and communication, leading to better diabetes management and overall well-being. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Vicki Helgeson, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Carnegie Mellon University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with Type 1 Diabetes who've had it for at least a year. They must be married or living with a partner for the same duration, who's also willing to join the study. Participants need internet access and can't have other major illnesses overshadowing their diabetes. Non-English speakers and partners with diabetes are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

Reliable access to the internet at home

Married or living with someone for at least one year who is willing to participate in the study as the study partner

I have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for over a year.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a chronic illness more impactful than diabetes.

Partner does not consent to participate in study

Your partner has diabetes.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Couples complete a baseline questionnaire assessment and have a videotaped conversation about coping with diabetes

1 day

1 visit (in-person or virtual)

Intervention

Participants receive either the communal coping intervention or diabetes education control, followed by 7 days of daily diaries and text message prompts for the intervention group

2 weeks

1 visit (in-person or virtual), daily virtual engagement

Follow-up

An in-person follow-up interview takes place 6 weeks after the initial session to assess outcomes and repeat the videotaped conversation

6 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Communal Coping Intervention

Trial Overview The trial is testing a new 'communal coping intervention' designed to help couples where one partner has Type 1 Diabetes work together better in managing the condition. It's about sharing the challenge of diabetes care between patient and partner through an online program.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Communal Coping Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The intervention consists of a single session brief communal coping intervention followed by 7 days of intervention prompts delivered via text message to help couples generalize what they have learned into their daily life. There are 9 components to the intervention: 1. establishment of rapport 2. shared stressor recollection 3. communal coping education 4. application of appraisal to diabetes 5. we-statements to reframe diabetes as shared 6. facilitated discussion between couple members to identify each person's needs with active listening 7. collaborative implementation intentions 8. EMI text messaging for 7 days following intervention

Group II: Diabetes Education Attention Control Active Control 1 Intervention

These participants will receive diabetes education via a 15-20 minute videotape (as well the intervention group)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Carnegie Mellon University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

80

Recruited

540,000+

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

237

Recruited

142,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 119 heterosexual couples dealing with a recent Type 2 diabetes diagnosis, communal coping—where partners collaboratively address illness-related issues—was linked to improved problem-solving and mood for both partners.

The results indicated that communal coping positively influenced relationship quality and reduced psychological distress, suggesting that working together in managing diabetes can enhance overall well-being for couples.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Communally coping with diabetes: An observational investigation using the actor-partner interdependence model. Van Vleet, M., Helgeson, VS., Seltman, HJ., et al.[2021]

Communal coping, where patients with type 2 diabetes and their spouses work together to address illness-related challenges, leads to greater support from spouses and better receptivity from patients, enhancing immediate interaction outcomes.

Over a 6-month period, communal coping by patients was linked to improved long-term diabetes outcomes, such as increased self-efficacy and reduced diabetes distress, highlighting the importance of collaborative approaches in managing chronic illnesses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An examination of the communal coping process in recently diagnosed diabetes. Van Vleet, M., Helgeson, VS., Seltman, HJ., et al.[2020]

The study involving 199 individuals with type 1 diabetes identified two distinct components of communal coping: shared appraisal of the illness and collaborative coping strategies.

While neither component directly improved health outcomes, the interaction between shared appraisal and collaboration significantly influenced diabetes distress and self-care, indicating that collaboration can be harmful if individuals do not perceive their illness as a shared experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A multimethod approach to measuring communal coping in adults with type 1 diabetes. Zajdel, M., Helgeson, VS., Butner, JE., et al.[2023]

The study tested the communal coping model in the context of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and found that coping together as a family can lead to better health outcomes for patients, highlighting the importance of social support.

Three distinct types of communal coping were identified, suggesting that both shared cognitive appraisals and joint actions can positively influence family cohesion and individual outcomes in managing T2D.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing a Dimensional Versus a Typological Approach to the Communal Coping Model in the Context of Type 2 Diabetes. Basinger, ED.[2021]

In a study of 199 couples where one partner had Type 1 diabetes, higher levels of shared illness appraisals between patients and spouses were linked to better self-care and fewer self-regulation failures in diabetes management.

However, when illness appraisals were less shared, collaborative and supportive strategies from spouses were associated with poorer self-care and higher blood glucose levels, indicating that the effectiveness of these strategies depends on the perception of shared illness between partners.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Daily illness appraisal and collaboration in couples with type 1 diabetes. Berg, CA., Helgeson, VS., Tracy, EL., et al.[2021]

The study analyzed interviews with 28 individuals with type 2 diabetes and their family members, revealing that the cognitive aspect of communal coping involves how family members perceive ownership of the problem and their influence over it.

Appraisals of the diabetes situation are shaped by the family's knowledge of the disease and the patient's changing health status, highlighting the importance of education and communication in managing chronic illnesses within families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Explicating the Appraisal Dimension of the Communal Coping Model. Basinger, ED.[2022]

The paper presents a narrative intervention aimed at promoting communal coping among couples dealing with chronic illnesses, specifically diabetes, by encouraging them to view their health challenges as a shared problem.

This intervention is unique as it relies solely on a series of open-ended questions across eight modules, rather than providing direct instructions, fostering teamwork and collaboration without imposing solutions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Constructing We-ness: A Communal Coping Intervention for Couples Facing Chronic Illness. Rohrbaugh, MJ.[2021]

Citations

1. breakthrought1d.org breakthrought1d.org/grants/united-states/pennsylvania/pilot-brief-communal-coping-intervention-for-adults-with-type-1-diabetes/

Pilot Brief Communal Coping Intervention for Adults with ... First, there is a large literature that has established that communal coping is linked to good psychological and physical health outcomes—much of this work ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9798461/

A Multi-Method Approach to Measuring Communal Coping ... The study goals were to assess how individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes communally cope with their romantic partner using multiple methods.

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05925556

Pilot Brief Communal Coping Intervention for Adults With ... We will recruit 66 couples in which one person has type 1 diabetes. Power is based on effect sizes from previous couple intervention studies and meta-analyses ...

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-diabetes-mellitus-6-2023-87b14

Communal Coping Intervention for Type 1 Diabetes This trial tests a program that helps couples work together to manage type 1 diabetes. It targets couples where one partner has diabetes, aiming to improve ...

5. psycnet.apa.org psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-53328-001.pdf?sr=1

Health Psychology - APA PsycNET Objective: Communal coping is an interpersonal coping style that has been linked to positive psychosocial and health outcomes.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6082133/

Communally Coping with Diabetes: An Observational ... Communal coping is a form of interpersonal coping that involves a shared illness appraisal and collaborating to address illness-related issues.