The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether an arts-based storytelling and narrative medicine workshop series can improve social connection, illness identity, and psychological well-being in adolescents and young adults with chronic illness, specifically diabetes.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does participation in a narrative-based storytelling workshop improve social connectedness and peer support among adolescents and young adults with diabetes? * Does engagement in creative arts and reflective storytelling support identity formation, self-expression, and emotional well-being in this population?
Participants will be 16-25 years old and recruited through the UCSF Pediatric Diabetes Clinic. Individuals must be able to participate in group workshops and complete surveys and interviews related to the study.
Participants will:
* Attend eight weekly workshops centered on storytelling, reflection, and creative expression * Engage in narrative medicine activities, including writing, storytelling, drawing, and facilitated reflection * Participate in group discussions focused on personal experiences with chronic illness * Complete pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing psychosocial outcomes such as social connectedness, illness identity, self-concept, and mental well-being * Participate in interviews and reflective exercises about their experiences in the program
This study aims to explore the role of narrative medicine and arts-based interventions in supporting adolescents and young adults with chronic illness and assess their potential benefits as a supplement to standard medical care.
Participants must be patients at the UCSF Pediatric Diabetes Clinic
Participants must have a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes
Participants must be between 16-25 years old
The participant and/or caregiver(s) must be English-speaking
Participants unable to attend the first session
Single group
Arts-Based Storytelling Workshop Series
BehavioralThe Arts-Based Storytelling Workshop Series is a structured eight-week behavioral intervention designed to enhance self-expression, social connection, emotional reflection, and psychological well-being in adolescents and young adults with diabetes. This intervention differs from traditional educational or counseling approaches by integrating creative expression, guided reflection, and group dialogue as therapeutic tools. Each weekly session includes: -Engagement with written, visual, or artistic prompts centered on themes such as identity, resilience, relationships, coping, uncertainty, and growth in the context of chronic illness -Facilitated group discussion and sharing designed to promote peer support, emotional processing, and a sense of community among participants - Creative exercises in response to structured prompts, including writing, storytelling, drawing, or other expressive activities that support personal reflection
Participant retention and attendance
Feasibility will be assessed by tracking the number of participants who attend each of the 8 weekly sessions, including overall completion of the program.
Participant satisfaction
Acceptability will be assessed using post-intervention satisfaction questionnaires with 5-point Likert-scale items and semi-structured individual interviews. Measures will evaluate perceived relevance of workshop content, usefulness of creative prompts, quality of group discussion, and facilitation experience. Scale title: Intervention Satisfaction Questionnaire (ISQ) Minimum value: 1 (Strongly Disagree) Maximum value: 5 (Strongly Agree) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with the intervention.
Illness identity
Assessed using the Illness Identity Questionnaire, which evaluates how individuals integrate a chronic illness into their sense of self. Scores reflect different illness identity orientations, with higher scores indicating stronger endorsement of the corresponding identity state. Scale title: Illness Identity Questionnaire (IIQ) Minimum value: 1 (Strongly Disagree) Maximum value: 5 (Strongly Agree) Interpretation: Subscale scores reflect distinct illness identity states; higher scores indicate greater endorsement of that identity orientation
Social connectedness
Measured using the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS), which assesses perceived closeness to others and sense of belonging. Scale title: Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) Minimum value: 1 (Strongly Disagree) Maximum value: 6 (Strongly Agree) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater feelings of social connectedness and belonging.
Self-reported well-being
Measured using the WHO-5 is a self-report instrument measuring mental well-being. Scale title: Psychosocial functioning scale (PFQ) Minimum value: 0 (At no time) Maximum value: 5 (All of the time) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater well-being.
Self-esteem
Measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), which assesses global self-worth, self-worth and self-acceptance. Scale Minimum value: 1 (Strongly agree) Maximum value: 4 (Strongly disagree) Interpretation: Higher total scores indicating more positive self-esteem.
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