The relationship between self-esteem, sense of self-efficacy and level of illness acceptance, and healthful behaviours in patients with long-term illnesses (type II diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease)

Abstract

BackgroundHashimoto thyroiditis and type II diabetes are chronic diseases which have adverse consequences impacting emotional and cognitive functioning. Healthful behaviours focused on improvement of one’s health or on combating the illness play a key role in psychosocial functioning of a person, particularly one suffering from a long-term illness. The aim of the research was the measurement and analysis of healthful behaviours and the distinction of variables determining healthful behaviours. We attempted to examine the connection between adhering to healthful behaviours, and the level of illness acceptance, self-efficacy and self-esteem, in terms of exhibiting healthful behaviours in the above-mentioned groups of patients.Participants and procedureThe study group consisted of 140 persons (70 persons with type II diabetes, 70 persons with Hashimoto’s disease). The following measurement techniques were used: the Health Behaviour Inventory by Z. Juczyński, the General Self-Efficacy Scale by R. Schwarzer and M. Jerusalem adapted for Polish by Z. Juczyński, the Acceptance of Illness Scale by B. J. Felton, T. A. Revenson and G. A. Hinrichsen, and the Self-Esteem Scale by M. Rosenberg.ResultsThe results show that for the group of type II diabetes patients self-efficacy constitutes a statistically significant moderate positive predictor of psychological attitude and appropriate eating habits, and is a positive weak predictor of general healthful behaviour and prophylaxis at the tendency level. For Hashimoto’s sufferers the sense of self-efficacy is a statistically significant moderate predictor of healthful behaviours.ConclusionsThe study investigated significant relations between the level of illness acceptance, the sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem, and engagement in healthful behaviour. The sense of self-efficacy determines higher healthful practices in both research groups. The study allowed for a comparison of two groups of long-term illnesses sufferers – type II diabetes, and Hashimoto’s disease – in terms of adhering to healthful behaviours, and dependencies between selected psychological variables and patients’ preferred healthful behaviours.