Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered a global epidemic, and is constantly on the rise. In Israel, the percentage of diabetics in the Arab population is twice that found in the Jewish population (12% and 6.2%, respectively). Findings suggest that low differentiation of self (DoS: emotional reactivity+ fusion with others, I-position, emotional cutoff) may raise vulnerability to certain physiological pathologies by increasing susceptibility to psychological distress. The major goal of this study was to test differences in DoS and emotional distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms) between diabetic and healthy participants. The second aim was to examine cultural differences within these metrics. Another purpose was to examine the relationship between DoS and emotional distress among healthy and diabetic participants. The sample included 261 participants, of whom 154 were healthy and 107 were diabetic. Diabetics reported more severe depressive symptoms, higher levels of anxiety and emotional cutoff and lower levels of I-position than healthy individuals. The groups did not differ in their levels of emotional reactivity + fusion with others. Arabs demonstrated higher levels of emotional cutoff, anxiety and depressive symptoms and lower levels of I-position than Jews. However, Arabs and Jews did not differ in their levels of emotional reactivity + fusion with others. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others contributed the most to diabetes among Arabs, while depressive symptoms contributed the most among Jews. Finally, among Jewish participants, age was positively correlated with emotional cutoff and depressive symptoms. Emotional cutoff was positively correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others was positively correlated with anxiety. Among Arab participants, age was positively correlated with emotional cutoff, anxiety and depressive symptoms. I-position was negatively correlated with all study variables. Emotional cutoff was positively correlated, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others was positively correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Highlights
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose, insulin resistance and a relative lack of insulin, is considered a global epidemic, with the number of patients estimated at about 422 million and constantly on the rise [1].T2DM has been identified by the World Health Organization [1] as one of the four leading noncommunicable diseases contributing to premature death globally
T2DM was significantly different between the two ethnic groups, with 27.6% (43 of the Jewish participants diabetic compared to 60.9 (64) of the Arab participants (χ2 = 26.55, p < 0.001)
This study presented a preliminary analysis of possible cultural differences in T2DM, differentiation of self (DoS) (I-position, emotional cutoff, and emotional reactivity + fusion with others), and emotional distress
Summary
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose, insulin resistance and a relative lack of insulin, is considered a global epidemic, with the number of patients estimated at about 422 million and constantly on the rise [1]. T2DM has been identified by the World Health Organization [1] as one of the four leading noncommunicable diseases contributing to premature death globally. People with diabetes are at a high risk of mortality due to physiological and psychological complications [2]. According to the International Diabetes Association, the prevalence of diabetes in Israel among individuals aged 20–79 was 9.7% [1]. In Israel, approximately 550,000 people are diabetic and another 550,000 are prediabetic [3]. T2DM has an unequal influence on ethnic/racial minorities from deprived backgrounds and occurs in complex psychosocial and cultural environments [4]
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