Structural equation modeling of the effects of psychological distress and a fear of coronavirus disease 2019 on diabetes care in Japan
Year: 2022
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study aimed to examine the effects of psychological distress and a fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on diabetes care in Japan. We used data from a 2020 nationwide internet survey in Japan involving 28,000 respondents aged 15–79 years. The question items included psychological factors (Kessler psychological distress scale and fear of COVID-19), employment, trust in neighbors, informal caregiving, and history of diabetes care. After excluding respondents with comorbidities and those who had not visited the hospital, 625 patients with diabetes were analyzed. Statistical mediation was then examined through a path analysis using structural equation modeling. Discontinued diabetes care was independently associated with psychological distress (risk ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [1.01–2.06]) and a fear of COVID-19 (1.41 [1.01–1.95]). The results of the structural equation modeling indicated that a fear of COVID-19, employment, trust in neighbors, and informal caregiving were indirectly associated with continued diabetes care via psychological distress. These findings suggest that a fear of COVID-19 is associated with continued diabetes care via psychological distress. COVID-19 pandemic may affect psychological distress and lead to refrained diabetes care among Japanese patients with diabetes. Moreover, employment, trust in neighbors, and family caregiving were also found to buffer refrained diabetes care. As psychological factors and socioeconomic status can affect diabetes care, a fear of COVID-19 should be considered in patients with diabetes to help ensure the continuation of diabetes treatment.
Source: Research Square
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1243903342, G1293722121, G1647977057, The relationship between working hours and workplace climate and employee health and productivity: a combined study including factors outside the workplace, Epidemiological study to evaluate an impact of new tobacco products in Japan, Long-term healthy lifestyls and risk of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: a working population-based cohort study, Clarification of the relationship between periodontitis severity and the onset and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Estimation of future needs of life support services among community-dwelling older adults, G6656144769, A simulation modelling study to examine the effects of underlying factors and control measures on disease incidence and mortality in a population, G8595136466
OpenAlex ID: W4225424130