Faculty Collaboration Database

Association between spirituality and depression in adults with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Educ 2012;38(3):427-35

Date

03/23/2012

Pubmed ID

22438283

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3722879

DOI

10.1177/0145721712440335

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84861132499 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   37 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the association between spirituality and depression among patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS: This study included 201 adult participants with diabetes from an indigent clinic of an academic medical center. Participants completed validated surveys on spirituality and depression. The Daily Spiritual Experience (DSE) Scale measured a person's perception of the transcendent (God, the divine) in daily life. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale assessed depression. Linear regression analyses examined the association of spirituality as the predictor with depression as the outcome, adjusted for confounding variables.

RESULTS: Greater spirituality was reported among females, non-Hispanic blacks, those with lower educational levels, and those with lower income. The unadjusted regression model showed greater spirituality was associated with less depression. This association was mildly diminished but still significant in the final adjusted model. Depression scores also increased (greater depression risk) with females and those who were unemployed but decreased with older age and non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of depression symptoms may be facilitated by incorporating the spiritual values and beliefs of patients with diabetes. Therefore, faith-based diabetes education is likely to improve self-care behaviors and glycemic control.

Author List

Lynch CP, Hernandez-Tejada MA, Strom JL, Egede LE

Author

Leonard E. Egede MD Center Director, Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Attitude to Health
Depression
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Educational Status
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Middle Aged
Self Care
Sex Distribution
Spirituality
Surveys and Questionnaires