Perceptions of support, diabetes-related coping and psychological well-being in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine the relationship between support from health care professionals and the family, diabetes-related coping, and psychological well-being by testing a model hypothesizing the structure of these relations in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A sample comprising 534 Norwegian adults with both types of diabetes aged 25 to 70 completed questionnaires assessing perceptions of support, diabetes-related coping styles and psychological well-being. Results indicate that perceptions of support from the family are more closely linked to diabetes-related coping than support from the health care professionals. Moreover, results suggest that association between perceptions of support and psychological well-being is mainly mediated by coping. Only associations of emotion-focused coping and self-blame with psychological well-being, however, were detected. Differences in patterns of associations among the sub samples of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes were identified. The findings are discussed in the light of previous research and assumptions. Suggestions are given regarding implications for the health care of people with diabetes.