Naslov
Gender differences in psychological functioning and causal beliefs in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Autori
Pokrajac-Bulian, Alessandra ; Klobučar Majanović, Sanja ; Kukić, Miljana ; Tkalčić, Mladenka

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Abstracts book / - , 2018, 18-18

Skup
6th Annual Scientific Conference of the European Association of Psychosomatic Medicine (EAPM)

Mjesto i datum
Verona, Italija, 27.06.2018. - 30.06.2018

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
psychological functioning ; causal beliefs ; type 2 diabetes mellitus ; gender

Sažetak
Aims: The aim of this study was to examine whether there are gender differences in psychological functioning (anxiety, depression) and in perception of the causes of the illness in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Perception of the illness causes, emotional representations and belief in the controllability of the illness were verified in the context of Leventhal's common sense representation of illness model. Methods: The clinical sample included 88 adults (46 males), aged from 31 to 79 years. Patients were examined in the Outpatient clinic for endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic diseases in the Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka. Psychological measurements included questionnaires of Illness perception and general anxiety and depression. Diabetic complications, treatment and glycemic control (HbA1c) were analysed from medical records. Results: There are gender differences in the psychological attribution of diabetes (such as stress or worry, family problems etc. The results show gender differences in anxiety and significant interaction of gender and glycemic regulation in anxiety and depression. Women who have poor glycemic regulation report higher levels of anxiety symptoms and higher levels of emotional representations, and men who have better glycemic regulation report higher levels of depressive symptoms. Considering psychological attributions, anxiety and depression, there are no differences comparing groups due to diabetes complications, nor between groups with regard to treatment (insulin vs. oral therapy). Conclusions: The results suggest the existence of gender differences in the attribution of the illness and psychological functioning of T2DM patients. In working with patients, it is important to pay attention to both medical complications and psychological aspects of illness, taking into account the patient's sex. Patient's beliefs in illness controllability and, consequently, treatment adherence (e.g. taking medication regularly, diet guidelines adherence) will be increased by paying attention to cognitive and affective aspects of the illness.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA