The impact of type D personality on self-care of patients with type 2 diabetes: the mediating role of coping strategies

As a chronic disease, Diabetes requires special self-care behaviors until the end of life. Psychological factors play an important role in following the self-care plans among patients with diabetes. The present study was designed to examine the relationship between type D personality and self-care with the mediating role of coping strategies in patients with type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 361 patients with type 2 diabetes from Ale-Ebrahim Diabetes Charity Center in Isfahan, Iran. Type D personality, coping strategies and self-care were measured by validated questionnaires. The data were analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicated that type D personality affects the self-care behaviors indirectly via emotion-oriented coping. Problem and avoidant oriented coping strategies did not significantly mediate the effect of type D personality on self-care. In general, assessing psychological background (such as personality traits and coping strategies) can facilitate the treatment of patients with diabetes by means of self-care enhancement.