Using the common sense model of illness selfregulation to understand diabetes-related distress: The importance of being able to 'make sense' of diabetes

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Date
2010
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Authors
Alpass F
Stephens C
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New Zealand Psychological Society
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Abstract
This study examines the relationships between illness perceptions and illness-related distress among adults with type 2 diabetes. Research participants (N = 615) were randomly selected from a primary care database in New Zealand. Data were collected through a mailed questionnaire survey and review of medical records. The primary outcome was diabetes-related psychological distress measured using the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale. Multiple regression analyses controlling for age, clinical characteristics, and mental health showed that illness perceptions accounted for 15% of differences in distress about diabetes (F change (4,462) = 35.37, p < .001). Poor mental health and illness severity alone do not explain differences in diabetes-related emotional adjustment. Results suggest that ‘making sense’ of diabetes may be central to successfully managing the emotional consequences of diabetes.
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New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 2010, 39 (1), pp. 45 - 50
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