The relationship between personality profile and self-care among patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: As a chronic disease, diabetes needs special self-care behaviors until the end of life. Personality traits are considered to be effective psychological factors in controlling diabetes and self-care in patients with diabetes. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between personality profile and self-care among people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In this descriptive-correlational study conducted in 2021, 160 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to the diabetes clinic of Imam Khomeini Educational and Medical Center in Ardabil were selected by convenience sampling method. The data collection tools included the Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire (SDSCA) and the short form of the Millon Multi-Axis Clinical Test (MCMI-3), which were completed through interviews with patients. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics (mean, SD, and frequency) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression). RESULTS: Based on the results, apart from the obsessive personality disorder, which had a positive relationship with self-care behaviors, a significant negative correlation was observed between schizoid, avoidant, depressed, dependent, antisocial, self-harming, borderline, and paranoid personality disorders with self-care behaviors (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results showed that there is a significant negative relationship between personality profile and self-care status of patients with type 2 diabetes. In other words, a person’s personality profile can predict self-care behaviors. Accordingly, personality traits can be considered as one of the influencing factors on self-care in the educational programs of diabetic patients. Holding educational classes to empower patients using psychological interventions and teaching effective solutions can be an effective step toward increasing the level of mental-physical health and self-care of patients with type 2 diabetes.