The influence of personality on trajectories of distress, health and functioning in mild-to-moderately depressed adults with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Identification of mental health risk is important for optimising diabetes care in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Personality is linked to diabetes health and may assist detection of individuals with T2DM most at risk of chronic mental health difficulties. This study examined the moderator effect of personality factors on changes in psychological distress and functioning in adults with T2DM and mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms across a 12month period. Data were obtained from participants in a randomised controlled trial of adults with T2DM. Participants completed measures of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7), general functioning (Work and Social Adjustment Scale), diabetes distress (Diabetes Distress Scale), and diabetes self-management (Self-Management Profile for Type 2 Diabetes) at baseline, 3-, 6-and 12-months. Glycaemic control (HbA1c) was measured at baseline, 6-and 12-months. Two hundred trial completers agreed to complete a personality inventory (Big Five Inventory). Low neuroticism was linked with reduced depression, anxiety, functional impairment and diabetes distress over the year. High extraversion was associated with decreased anxiety and functional impairment. High conscientiousness was linked to increased healthy eating. No personality trait moderated HbA1c levels. Personality screening may help identify mental health risk and guide medical carer approach in T2DM patients.

The Mediating Effects of Diabetes Distress, Anxiety, and Cognitive Fusion on the Association Between Neuroticism and Fear of Hypoglycemia in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

“…First, the results of the current study revealed that diabetes distress mediated the relationship between neuroticism and FoH. In this model, neuroticism was related to a high risk of diabetes distress and diabetes distress was associated with high risks of FoH, which was in line with previous studies ( Sanatkar et al, 2020 ; Li et al, 2021 ). Patients with diabetes need to adhere to hypoglycemic treatments and a series of management methods, such as diet control, for a long time due to the chronic and long-term nature of diabetes, which can easily give rise to negative emotions in patients ( Skinner et al, 2020 ).…”

“…More specifically, the more severe the diabetic distress of the patients, the stronger the FoH. Furthermore, a longitudinal study found that low neuroticism was linked with reduced diabetes distress over the course of a year ( Sanatkar et al, 2020 ), which suggests that diabetes distress may be a specific result of neuroticism. As a result, diabetes distress may be a mediating variable in the relationship between neuroticism and FoH.…”

Big Five traits, approach-avoidance motivation, concerns and adherence with COVID-19 prevention guidelines during the peak of pandemic in Croatia

“…Conscientiousness predicts Social Distancing and Wearing Masks and Gloves. This finding is congruent to a large body of research showing that conscientious individuals pay more attention to their health (e.g., Bogg & Roberts, 2013 ) and use more adaptive behaviour in health-related programs ( Sanatkar et al, 2020 ). In addition to these explanations, we found that conscientious individuals are more disciplined in wearing masks and gloves and keeping a distance from others due to their tendency to pursue attaining long-term goals (Getting as mediator), which is also consistent with previous studies (e.g., Murray, 2005 ).…”

Predicting Perceived Stress Related to the Covid-19 Outbreak through Stable Psychological Traits and Machine Learning Models

“…In this sense, in times of self-isolation, conscientious people might have a greater tolerance for frustration and imposition relative to less conscientious people, who might engage in more impulsive behavior [ 96 ]. Moreover, previous research has indicated that conscientiousness may influence adaptive behavior, especially in health-related programs [ 99 , 100 ].…”