Abstract
ObjectivesTo investigate associations between perceived autonomy support from health-care professionals, autonomy-driven motivation, diabetes self-perceived competence and self-esteem in adults (age 18–55 yrs) with suboptimally regulated type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with at least one HbA1c≥8.0% (≥64 mmol/mol) during the past year, and whether these factors could predict decrease in self-esteem over time.MethodsA cross-sectional population-based survey was performed, and 9 months follow-up data were collected. Data collection comprised clinical and socio-demographic variables, blood sampling (HbA1c) and self-report questionnaires; the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ), Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ), the Perceived Competence in Diabetes Scale (PCDS), and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES). We fitted block-wise linear regression models to assess associations between RSES and variables of interest (HCCQ, TSRQ, PCDS, HbA1c, clinical and socio-demographic variables) and linear regression models to assess predictors of change over time.FindingsIn this study sample, aged 36.7 (±10.7) mean HbA1c 9.3% (±1.1), 31.5% had long-term complications and 42.7% had experienced severe hypoglycemia within the previous 12 months. In the final regression model the association between PCDS and RSES was strongly significant (B = 1.99, p<0.001) and the associations between HCCQ, TSRQ and RSES were reduced to non-significance. All predictor variables combined explained 42% of the variability of RSES (adjusted R2 = 0.423) with PCDS contributing 18% to explained variance (R-square change = 0.184, p<0.001). The strongest predictors of change in RSES over time were long-term complications (B = 2.76, p<0.001), specifically foot-related problems, and being female (B = -2.16, p = 0.002).ConclusionsPerceived autonomy support, autonomy-driven motivation and diabetes self-perceived competence play a significant role in explaining self-esteem among adults with suboptimally regulated T1DM. Healthcare professionals should acknowledge self-esteem as a valuable factor in understanding the multifaceted health choices people with T1DM make.Trial registrationClinical Trials.gov with identification number NCT 01317459.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex chronic condition [1] leaving the individual with daily demanding treatment-related choices [2]
Autonomy-driven motivation and diabetes self-perceived competence play a significant role in explaining self-esteem among adults with suboptimally regulated type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)
Healthcare professionals should acknowledge self-esteem as a valuable factor in understanding the multifaceted health choices people with T1DM make
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex chronic condition [1] leaving the individual with daily demanding treatment-related choices [2]. To understand the health choices people with chronic illness make, Luyckx and colleagues explored the illness self-concept: ‘the extent to which chronic illness becomes integrated in the self’ [3], and the degree to which type 1 diabetes (T1DM) intrudes upon one’s self [4]. Luyckx pointed out that the extent to which chronic illness becomes fully integrated in the self is significantly related to self-esteem, defined as ‘the degree to which an individual has a favorable or unfavorable opinion of himself and finds himself worthy or unworthy’ [7]. In a study among 478 emerging adults with T1DM women reported lower self-esteem than men [9]. The extent to which chronic illness become integrated in the self among persons with diabetes may constitute a barrier to self-management, a matter of vital importance in the diabetes field [12]
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