Lived Experiences of Coping With Type 1 Diabetes Among Palestinian Youth: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in adolescents requires continuous self-care and emotional adjustment. Palestinian youth with T1DM face unique challenges within the context of the West Bank healthcare system, where political instability, resource limitations, and cultural factors create additional barriers to optimal diabetes management. These youth experience heightened social stigma, cultural dietary pressures, and restricted access to specialized healthcare services.

Aim: To explore the lived experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of Palestinian youth with T1DM in the West Bank.

Methods: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted from May-June 2025. Eighteen Palestinian adolescents (12-18 years) with T1DM were recruited through purposive sampling from West Bank diabetes clinics. Participants were approached directly at clinics by trained researchers who explained the study's voluntary nature and ensured understanding that participation would not affect clinical care. For minors under 16, guardians were present during consent, and all participants provided appropriate consent/assent. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews (45-90 min) and analyzed using conventional content analysis methods. Credibility was established through prolonged engagement, peer debriefing, and member checking with five participants.

Results: Four main themes emerged from the analysis: challenges from social and cultural pressures, including stigma and dietary expectations; reliance on support systems involving family, peers, and healthcare access; emotional and spiritual coping through resilience, anxiety management, and faith-based strategies; daily self-management focused on insulin routines and food planning. Participants described significant barriers, including limited healthcare resources, medication shortages, cultural food pressures during religious fasting periods, and social misunderstandings about diabetes. Despite these challenges, many demonstrated remarkable resilience through family support, religious coping, and adaptive self-care routines.

Conclusion: Palestinian adolescents with T1DM navigate complex challenges that extend beyond medical management to include cultural, social, and political barriers. Their coping strategies are deeply embedded in family support systems and religious faith. The findings highlight the critical need for culturally responsive, family-centered diabetes care that addresses both medical and psychosocial needs while considering the unique context of life in the West Bank.