Positive Psychological Wellbeing in Type 1 Diabetes: A cross-sectional study examining the association between positive psychological factors, self-care behaviours and glycaemic control in young adults with type 1 diabetes
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a behaviourally and psychologically demanding chronic illness. Self-care is necessary for individuals to achieve optimal glucose control and avoid diabetes-related health complications. Emerging adults with T1D face unique challenges due to the transition from adolescence to adulthood and increased independence over self-care behaviours. Only recently have studies started to focus on protective psychosocial factors in T1D, however studies examining the relationship between positive psychosocial factors and objective measures of health, including possible mechanisms, in emerging adults are lacking. Aim: Due to the limited findings in young adults with T1D regarding the role of positive psychosocial factors and health outcomes, we wanted to examine whether increased optimism, positive efficacy expectancies and self-compassion in this group is associated with more optimal self-care behaviours and glycaemic control, and to explore possible factors mediating this relationship. Method: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between protective psychosocial factors (optimism, positive efficacy expectancies, self-compassion), poor psychological functioning (stress, anxiety, depression), self-care behaviours and glycaemic control (HbA1c) in 113 emerging adults (17-25 years) with T1D in Auckland, New Zealand. Pearson's correlations, multiple linear regression, independent samples t-tests and multiple mediation analyses were used to examine associations and mediating variables. Results: Optimism, positive efficacy expectancies and self-compassion correlated positively with self-care behaviours. Optimism and positive efficacy expectancies negatively correlated with HbA1c. Self-compassion was found to be the strongest independent predictor of HbA1c. Self-care was found to mediate the relationship between optimism and HbA1c, between positive efficacy expectancies and HbA1c and between self-compassion and HbA1c. Stress was found to mediate the relationship between self-compassion and HbA1c. Conclusion: This study provides insight into various positive psychosocial factors and a complex chronic condition, particularly in an emerging adult population. Associations were demonstrated between optimism, positive efficacy and self-compassion and adaptive health outcomes (more optimal self-care behaviours and HbA1c). Additionally this study is the first to examine and highlight potential mediating factors (self-care behaviours and stress) of this association. Furthermore, this study contributes to the growing literature that has found that positive psychosocial factors may play a role in adaptive health outcomes in a T1D population.
Author: Loseby, Philippa
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7070363633