Project 457199

Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is among the fastest growing illnesses worldwide and its prevalence is rapidly increasing. While awareness is mounting of T2D-related biological complications, there is robust evidence that mental health comorbidity is extremely high among youth with T2D. However, a critical knowledge gap exists in our understanding of youth experiences of T2D-related mental health challenges. Mirroring this gap is a lack of technological platforms to promote collaborative research and integrated knowledge translation (iKT) with youth, the need for which has been catalyzed by the emergence of novel coronavirus 2019. Objectives: (1) Create the first virtual living-lab for youth-centered research in T2D with an embedded registry of youth with T2D, and use this platform to (2) generate a robust understanding of youth experiences of comorbid mental health challenges, and (3) identify youth priorities for mental health research and care, and co-create arts-based KT resources to promote person-centered research and service-provision. Methods: A 3-stage longitudinal convergent mixed methods research study. Stage 1: A HIPPA compliant virtual living lab and corresponding registry of English-speaking youth with T2D will be co-designed with youth co-researchers and a technology company. Stage 2: 50 youth will be purposively selected from the registry, complete baseline mental health measures, followed by 12 content modules using diary and arts-based response methods. Inductive thematic and mixed methods analysis will inform stage 3. Stage 3: 20 youth will be purposively selected from the registry to identify priorities for mental health research and care, and co-design arts-based KT resources to impart critical research findings to stakeholder groups identified with participants and youth co-researchers. Impact: This proposal reflects innovations in co-design research and iKT with potential to promote more meaningful and sustainable youth-centered research, while contributing the first robust understanding of youth experiences of co-morbid mental health challenges in youth-onset T2D.