Impact of Digitally Enabled Peer Support Interventions on Diabetes Distress and Depressive Symptoms in People Living with Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review

To explore the impact of digitally-enabled peer support interventions on diabetes distress and depression for individuals living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

We synthesized the results of nine key studies from a review of 3,623 English-language articles published between January 2012 and January 2024. Three studies demonstrated significant reductions in diabetes distress, and two studies reported reductions in depression. Data were analyzed using a narrative approach, including thematic synthesis. This process was structured around the Behavior Change Wheel framework Effective interventions shared several common features such as (1) involved participatory development approaches, (2) included diabetes education, (3) lasted over a longer time, (4) designed with a psychological framework, and (5) utilized peer mentors.

Studies showed that digitally-enabled peer support has the potential to improve diabetes distress and depression among people living with T1D despite heterogeneity in intervention approaches. Moreover, designing interventions with certain features may enhance key psychosocial outcomes.