IngentaConnect The role of resilience on psychological adjustment and physical h...

Authors: Yi, Joyce P.¹; Vitaliano, Peter P.²; Smith, Ronald E.¹; Yi, Jean C.¹; Weinger, Katie³

Source: British Journal of Health Psychology, Volume 13, Number 2, May 2008 , pp. 311-325(15)

Publisher: British Psychological Society

Abstract:

Objective: This study used a longitudinal design to investigate the buffering role of resilience on worsening HbA_1c and self-care behaviours in the face of rising diabetes-related distress.

Method: A total of 111 patients with diabetes completed surveys and had their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) assessed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Resilience was defined by a factor score of self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-mastery and optimism. Diabetes-related distress and self-care behaviours were also assessed.

Results: Baseline resilience, diabetes-related distress and their interaction predicted physical health (HbA_1c) at 1 year. Patients with low, moderate and high resilience were identified. Those with low or moderate resilience levels showed a strong association between rising distress and worsening HbA_1c across time (r=.57, .56, respectively). However, those with high resilience scores did not show the same associations (r=.08). Low resilience was also associated with fewer self-care behaviours when faced with increasing distress (r=−.55). These correlation coefficients remained significant after controlling for starting-points.

Conclusion: In patients with diabetes, resilience resources predicted future HbA_1c and buffered worsening HbA_1c and self-care behaviours in the face of rising distress levels.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1348/135910707X186994

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA 2: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA 3: Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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The role of resilience on psychological adjustment and physical health in patients with diabetes