Our Research:
Psychosocial Aspects
Psychosocial Aspects
People with type 1 diabetes and their families, face a number of significant challenges in order to effectively manage the condition. Achieving good glycaemic control requires regular monitoring and action – people with diabetes are advised to check their glucose levels at least 7 times a day and make adjustments to diet and/or activity as appropriate. The burden that this places on people with diabetes and their families can raise the risk of developing psychosocial problems, including depression, anxiety, and stress.
We are collaborating on these projects with recognized experts in diabetes and psychology, helping to ensure that we conduct the most meaningful and clinically relevant research studies that will lead to real improvements in care.
Our research on psychosocial and psychological issues is focussed on the following aspects:
- Early detection of psychosocial problems in people and families with diabetes
- Screening, detection and treatment of diabetes-related anxiety disorders
Projects
Publications
Sensors & quality of life in T1D
Per Winterdijk, Henk-Jan Aanstoot, Giesje Nefs
The impact of real-time sensor technology on quality of life for adults with type 1 diabetes: A Dutch national survey. Diab Res Clin Pract. 203;September 2023;110886
Sleep & T1D in youths
Giesje Nefs, Richard Feinn, Anne-Marie Chang, Julie Wagner
Longitudinal relations of sleep quality with depressive symptoms, diabetes distress and self-efficacy in young people with type 1 diabetes. J. Psychosom. Res. 2023. 10 August 2023, 111457
Reducing fear of hypoglycaemia
Hannah Chatwin, Melanie Broadley, Bastiaan de Galan, Ellen Bazelmans, Jane Speight, Frans Pouwer, Giesje Nefs
Effectiveness of educational and behavioural interventions for reducing fear of hypoglycaemia among adults with type 1 diabetes: Systematic review and meta- analyses. Diabet Med. 2023 Feb 17;e15071.
Binge eating in diabetes
Sasja Huisman, Christel Hendrieckx, Mariska Bot, François Pouwer, Giesje Nefs
Prevalence, associations and health outcomes of binge eating in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes: Results from Diabetes MILES –The Netherlands. Diabet Med. 2023 Jan;40(1):e14953.
Sleep disturbances in diabetes
Femke Rutters, Giesje Nefs
Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disturbances in Diabetes: A Narrative Review. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2022 Nov 21;15:3627-3637.
Hypoglycemia and cognitive function
Clementine Verhulst, Therese Fabricius, Giesje Nefs, Roy Kessels, Frans Pouwer, Steven Teerenstra, Cees Tack, Melanie Broadley, Peter Kristensen, Rory McCrimmon, Simon Heller, Mark Evans, Ulrik Pedersen-Bjergaard, Bastiaan de Galan
Consistent Effects of Hypoglycemia on Cognitive Function in People With or Without Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2022 Sep 1;45(9):2103-2110.
Mental health and lifestyle behaviours in diabetes
Kristel Polhuis, Eline van Bennekom, Mariska Bot, Giesje Nefs, Lenneke Vaandrager, Mirela Habibovic, Johanna Geleijnse, Frans Pouwer, Sabita Soedamah-Muthu
Flourishing mental health and lifestyle behaviours in adults with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: results from the Diabetes MILES – The Netherlands Study. Diabetes Care. J Psychosom Res. 2022 Sep;160:110950.
Measuring division of care in T1D
Jori Aalders, Giesje Nefs, Esther Hartman, Linh A. Nguyen, Per Winterdijk, Edgar van Mil, Henk-Jan Aanstoot, Frans Pouwer
A Systematic Review of Instruments Measuring the Division of Care Responsibilities between Children with Type 1 Diabetes and their Parents. Curr Diabetes Rev . 2023;19(5):59-93.
Psychology of automated insulin delivery systems in T1D
Giesje Nefs
The Psychological Implications of Automated Insulin Delivery Systems in Type 1 Diabetes Care. Front. Clin. Diabetes Healthc., 2022 May 3;3:846162.
Development of app for real-time investigation of hypoglycemia
Uffe Søholm, Melanie Broadley, Natalie Zaremba, Patrick Divilly, Giesje Nefs, Zeinab Mahmoudi, Bastiaan de Galan, Pedersen-Bjergaard, Alan Brennan, Daniel John Pollard, Rory J McCrimmon, Stephanie A. Amiel, Christel Hendrieckx, Jane Speight, Pratik Choudhary, Frans Pouwer, for the HypoRESOLVE Consortium
Investigating the day-to-day impact of hypoglycaemia in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes: design and validation protocol of the HypoMETRICS application. BMJ Open. 2022 Feb 1;12(2):e051651
Depression & Hba1c in diabetes
Magdalena Beran, Rutendo Muzambi, Anouk Geraets, Juan Rafael Albertorio-Diaz, Marcel C. Adriaanse, Marjolein M. Iversen, Andrzej Kokoszka, Giesje Nefs, Arie Nouwen, Frans Pouwer, Jörg W. Huber, Andreas Schmitt, Miranda T. Schram, for the European Depression in Diabetes (EDID) Research Consortium
The bidirectional longitudinal association between depressive symptoms and HbA1c: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabet Med. 2022 Feb;39(2):e14671.
Depression & anxiety in adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Linh A. Nguyen, Frans Pouwer, Paul Lodder, Esther Hartman, Per Winterdijk, Henk-Jan Aanstoot, Giesje Nefs
Depression and anxiety in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents. Pediatr Res . 2022 Jan;91(1):188-196.
Mindfulness & diet quality in diabetes
Shengxin Liu, Ivan Nyklíček, Frans Pouwer, Jane Speight, Mariska Bot, Giesje Nefs, Sabita S. Soedamah‑Muthu
Mindfulness in Relation to Diet Quality in Adults with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Results from Diabetes MILES‑The Netherlands. Mindfulness. 2021 Sep;12:2943–2954.
Sexual dysfunctions in diabetes
Jolijn Van Cauwenberghe, Paul Enzlin, Giesje Nefs, Johannes Ruige, Christel Hendrieckx, Christophe De Block, Frans Pouwer
Prevalence of and risk factors for sexual dysfunctions in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes: Results from Diabetes MILES -Flanders. Diabet Med . 2022 Jan;39(1):e14676. Epub 2021 Sep 1.
Hypoglycemia & quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Manon Coolen, Jori Aalders, Melanie Broadley, Henk-Jan Aanstoot, Esther Hartman, Christel Hendrieckx, Giesje Nefs, Frans Pouwer
Hypoglycaemia and diabetes-specific quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med . 2021 Aug;38(8):e14565.
Mood/anxiety disorders in adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Linh Anh Nguyen, Frans Pouwer, Per Winterdijk, Esther Hartman, Roos Nuboer, Theo Sas, Ineke de Kruijff, Willie Bakker-Van Waarde, Henk-Jan Aanstoot, Giesje Nefs
Prevalence and course of mood and anxiety disorders, and correlates of symptom severity in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Results from diabetes LEAP. Pediatr Diabetes. 2021 Jun; 22(4):638-648.
The qualimeter: improving discussions on quality of life
Donkers E, Dekker P, Winterdijk P, Mul D, Sas T, de Vries M, Veeze HJ, Aanstoot HJ, Nefs G, Eilander M.
The Qualimeter: Improving care for children and adults with type 1 diabetes by measuring and discussing Quality of Life. ICHOM 2019 conference.
Emotional problems in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents/caregivers
Nefs G, Nguyen L, Winterdijk P, Hartman E, Sas T, Nuboer R, De Kruijff I, Bakker-van Waarde W, Aanstoot HJ, Pouwer F.
Study protocol of Diabetes LEAP: a Longitudinal study Examining emotional problems in Adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their Parents/caregivers. BMC Pediatr. 2019; 19: 377.
Pediatric type 1 diabetes: a family disease
Nieuwesteeg AM, Hartman EE, Aanstoot HJ, van Bakel HJ, Emons WH, van Mil E, Pouwer F.
The relationship between parenting stress and parent-child interaction with health outcomes in the youngest patients with type 1 diabetes (0-7 years). Eur J Pediatr. 2016;175:329-38.
Dino study to provide new insights into pediatric type 1 diabetes
Eilander MM, de Wit M, Rotteveel J, Aanstoot HJ, Waarde WM, Houdijk EC, Luman M, Nuboer R, Oosterlaan J, Winterdijk P, Snoek FJ.
Diabetes IN development (DINO): the bio-psychosocial, family functioning and parental well-being of youth with type 1 diabetes: a longitudinal cohort study design. BMC Pediatrics. 2015;15:82.
Questionnaire assesses diabetes-related qol
De Wit M, Winterdijk P, Aanstoot HJ, Anderson B, Danne T, Deeb L, Lange K, Nielsen AØ, Skovlund S, Peyrot M, Snoek F; DAWN Youth Advisory Board.
Assessing diabetes-related quality of life in youth with type 1 diabetes in routine clinical care: the MIND Youth Questionnaire (MY-Q). Pediatr Diabetes. 2012;13:638-46.
Review assesses impact of type 1 diabetes on quality of life
Nieuwesteeg A, Pouwer F, van der Kamp R, van Bakel H, Aanstoot HJ, Hartman E.
Quality of life of children with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2012;8:434-43.