Faculty Collaboration Database

Meaning of illness and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Diabetes Complications 2015 Jul;29(5):665-9

Date

05/03/2015

Pubmed ID

25934437

DOI

10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2015.04.006

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84930572379 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   8 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Investigations into personal factors influencing quality of life are important for those developing strategies to support patients with diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the influence of meaning of illness on quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS: Veterans from primary care clinics in the southeastern United States completed a questionnaire including questions from the validated 5-scale Meaning of Illness Questionnaire (MIQ). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models investigated the physical and mental components of quality of life with the 5 MIQ factors.

RESULTS: The sample comprised 302 Black and White veterans. The physical component of quality of life (PCS) was positively associated with type of stress/attitude of harm (β = 2.43, CI: 0.94 to 3.93) and challenge/motivation/hope (β = 3.02, CI: 0.40 to 5.64) after adjustment, whereas the mental component of quality of life (MCS) was positively associated with the degree of stress/change in commitment (β = 2.58, CI: 0.78 to 4.38), and negatively associated with challenge/motivation/hope (β = -2.55, CI: -4.99 to -0.11).

CONCLUSION: Attitudes of challenge, motivation and hope had opposite effects on mental and physical components of quality of life in this sample of veterans. Additionally, whereas, the type of stress and attitude towards harm or loss was associated with the physical component, the degree of stress and change in commitments was associated with the mental component. This suggests addressing the meaning of an illness may be complex but is an important consideration in improving both physical and mental components of quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Author List

Walker RJ, Lynch CP, Strom Williams J, Voronca D, Egede LE

Authors

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

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

Aged
Attitude to Health
Combined Modality Therapy
Cost of Illness
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Female
Hospitals, Veterans
Humans
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
Primary Health Care
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Quality of Life
Southeastern United States
Stress, Physiological
Stress, Psychological
Veterans Health