Psychological variables associated to treatment adherence in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The objective of the present exploratory and transversal study is to identify and analyse psychological variables that can be related to treatment adherence in diabetic patients. A convenience sample included 316 diabetic patients; 44,6% males; aged between 16 and 84 years (M = 48,39; SD = 16,90), 41,8% (n = 132) with type 1 diabetes and 58,2% (n = 184) with type 2 diabetes. Disease duration varies between 4 months e 43 years (M = 13,66; SD = 9,32) and 59,8% of those patients suffers from diabetes chronic complications. Results suggest that satisfaction with social support and instrumental coping strategies are modestly and positively correlated to self-care activities. Positive and negative life events, as well as total stress and depression, are not significantly correlated with treatment adherence in diabetic patients. Finally, anxiety symptoms showed to be modestly and negatively related to diabetes self-care activities adherence.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v18i2.434