Evaluation of Arts-Based Storytelling Program in Adolescents With Diabetes

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Diabetes Mellitus

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Arts-Based Storytelling Workshop Series

The 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, San Francisco

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anoushka Sinha, MD, MS · University of California, San Francisco

• Lina Lew, BS · University of California, San Francisco

• Calis Lim, BS · Rosalind Franklin University

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-07-13

Primary Completion

2026-09-30

Completion

2026-09-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations