Author: Safa Alamgir
Supervisor: Humaira Naz
Degree: BS
Year: 2009-2013
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present study was aimed to investigate the relationship between Illness perception, Diabetes distress and Quality of life of patients with Diabetes. A sample of hundred diabetic patients including 47 men (M=55.49, SD= 8.46) and 53 were women (M= 52, SD= 1.28). The sample included both type I and type II diabetic patients (20 men and 20 women). Main Hypothesis of the study was: Firstly there would be a relationship between Illness perception and Diabetes distress. Secondly, there would be a relationship between Illness perception and Quality of life. And lastly there would be a negative relationship between Diabetes distress and Quality of life. Three questionnaires were used in the study, Illness Perception Questionnaire- Revised (IPQ-R, Moss-Morris, Petrie & Weinman, 2002), Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS, Polonsky et al. 2000) and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL Group, 1995). Correlation analysis showed significant negative correlation was found between Illness perception (Timeline, Consequences and Emotional representation) and positive correlation (Personal control, Treatment control and Illness coherence) with quality of life of diabetic patients in all domains. There was found negative correlation between Diabetes distress and Quality of life in all domains. Stepwise Regression analysis showed that Personal control, Emotional representation and Regimen distress, components of Illness Perception and Diabetes Distress were strong predictors of Quality of life of diabetic patients. It was further found that there was significant difference between type I and type II diabetic patient’s diabetes distress. Type I diabetes patients showed higher diabetes distress. It was also found that Type I diabetic patients had better quality of life than Type II diabetic patients. It is implicated through this research that early interventional steps and awareness would prove beneficial in decreasing the high risk illness perception of this disease, distress of diabetes and thus improving the quality of life. The adaptive health behaviors of patients can be enhanced by counseling of regarding the positive illness perception.
Keywords: Illness perception, Diabetes Distress and Quality of Life.
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Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
