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Altered Self-Observations, Unclear Risk Perceptions and Changes in Relational Everyday Life: A Qualitative Study of Psychosocial Life with Diabetes during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Author

Listed:
  • Dan Grabowski

    (Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Niels Steensens Vej 6, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark)

  • Julie Meldgaard

    (Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Niels Steensens Vej 6, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark)

  • Morten Hulvej Rod

    (Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Niels Steensens Vej 6, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark)

Abstract

When the Danish society went into COVID-19 lockdown, it dramatically changed the conditions for living with a chronic disease like diabetes. The present article highlights the psychosocial effects of this change. The dataset consists of 20 semi-structured online interviews with people with diabetes. The data were analyzed using radical hermeneutics and interpreted using Luhmann’s operative constructivist systems theory. The analysis produced three main themes: (1) people with diabetes experience altered self-observations–mainly due to society labelling them as vulnerable, (2) people with diabetes have unclear risk perceptions due to lack of concrete knowledge about the association between COVID-19 and diabetes, and (3) changes in conditions for maintaining and creating meaningful relations have a significant impact on everyday life with diabetes. These findings have important implications for risk communication. People respond in a multitude of ways to communications issued by health authorities and with close relations, and their meaning-making is shaped by, and shapes, their self-observations, risk perceptions and relational environments. This calls for more targeted communication strategies as well as increased use of peer support; the goal being to help people create meaning in their own environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Grabowski & Julie Meldgaard & Morten Hulvej Rod, 2020. "Altered Self-Observations, Unclear Risk Perceptions and Changes in Relational Everyday Life: A Qualitative Study of Psychosocial Life with Diabetes during the COVID-19 Lockdown," Societies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:10:y:2020:i:3:p:63-:d:407113
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abraham Rudnick, 2020. "Social, Psychological, and Philosophical Reflections on Pandemics and Beyond," Societies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-4, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carlos Miguel Ferreira & Sandro Serpa, 2020. "COVID-19 and Social Sciences," Societies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-3, December.
    2. Tapager, Ina & Joensen, Lene Eide & Vrangbæk, Karsten, 2022. "The role of self-efficacy, well-being capability and diabetes care assessment for emotional and diabetes management challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a follow-up study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).

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