The Effect of Self-Efficacy in Self-Management on Diabetes Distress in Young People with Type 2 Diabetes

To understand the relationship among glycemic control, self-efficacy in diabetes management, and diabetes distress in young people with type 2 diabetes, a cross-sectional descriptive study with convenience sampling was designed. A total of 60 young people who had type 2 diabetes (T2D), with 24 (40%) males and 36 (60%) females were included. The mean age was 17.2 and ranged from 10.5 to 24.5 years, and they completed a Perceived Diabetes Self-Management Scale, the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale and their pharmacologic management and life adjustment. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was routinely drawn before the outpatient visit. HbA1c and diabetic distress were positively correlated. Self-efficacy was negatively correlated with HbA1c and diabetic distress. In the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, only the duration of illness and self-efficacy remained significant in the final model. The variance for the overall model was 64%, with self-efficacy alone explaining 30% of the variance. In addition, 31.6% of participants had extremely high levels of psychological distress. Conclusions: T2D is an early onset chronic disease, and the young people may have had other health problems, which made the diabetes management a complex process. Nursing staff should regularly assess both the confidence and ability to manage treatment regimen of young people with type 2 diabetes and their psychological distress.