Diabetes Identity: A Mechanism of Social Change. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walker, Heather R.; Litchman, Michelle L.
• Is Part Of: Qualitative health research. Volume 31:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 913
• Page End: 925
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: diabetes online community -- diabetes identity -- community-based research -- online advocacy -- qualitative -- semi-structured interview -- social media; Health -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 610.7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732320984740
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7323

Abstract

Historically, diabetes identity has been examined at the individual level as it relates to clinical outcomes and self-management practices. Yet, identity is not experienced as an individually isolated phenomenon. The purpose of this study is twofold: (a) examine the social meaning of diabetes identity and (b) formulate a theoretical model of diabetes identity through a sociopolitical lens. Adults living with diabetes engaged in a diabetes online community ( N = 20) participated in a 60-minute semi-structured interview focused on social diabetes experiences and diabetes identity. Seven themes emerged related to illness, individuation, and culture, resulting in a novel theoretical model of diabetes identity: willingness to identify, tales of the un-sick, legends of the responsible, a tradition of change-making, sense of sameness, mystification of difference, and diabetes as a unifying social category. Our study extends previous literature focused on self-management practices and compliance, resulting in a theoretical model of diabetes identity centered around social change.