Stress management behavior and its associated factors among diabetes patients: A cross-sectional study in the northern Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Despite evidence supporting the positive impact of effective stress management on diabetes care, self-stress management remains a challenge for diabetic patients worldwide, including in Ethiopia, where research on self-stress management is lacking. This study examines stress management behaviors and their factors among individuals with diabetes. Method A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in public hospitals of North Shoa Zone from September 1–29, 2023. The study included 422 diabetic patients randomly selected from four public hospitals. Data entry was performed via Epi Data V.3.1, followed by analysis via SPSS version 22. Continuous variables are presented as the means and standard deviations, whereas categorical variables are expressed as percentages. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the study variables. To identify factors associated with stress management practices, binary logistic regression models were utilized. A p value of ≤ 0.05 and an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were considered indicative of statistically significant associations. Results Stress management practices were observed in 50.7% of the patients (95% CI: 46.5–55.6%). After adjusting for confounders, factors associated with greater engagement in stress management included formal education (AOR:1.77, 95% CI:1.29–2.77), good diabetic self-care knowledge (AOR:1.90, 95% CI:1.22–2.99), good health promotion services (AOR:2.02, 95% CI: 1.30–3.14), urban residence (AOR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.29–3.28), and the absence of comorbidities (AOR:2.09, 95% CI:1.33–3.28). Conclusion The findings of this study reveal a significant gap in stress management practices, emphasizing the urgent need for healthcare providers in diabetes care to prioritize the implementation of strategies that strengthen patient education, expand self-care knowledge, and deliver holistic health promotion services.