Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
8-2023
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph. D.
Department
Psychological and Brain Sciences
Degree Program
Clinical Psychology, PhD
Committee Chair
Stetson, Barbara
Committee Member
Walter, Bernadette
Committee Member
Meeks, Suzanne
Committee Member
Mast, Benjamin
Committee Member
Beacham, Abbie
Author's Keywords
illness identity; psychological flexibility; diabetes; stigma
Abstract
Introduction: Illness identity, defined as the extent to which one integrates their illness into their sense of self, may be a key psychological factor to consider in overall adjustment to and management of Type 2 Diabetes. Emerging research suggests illness identity integration is associated with aspects of diabetes-specific functioning. Psychological flexibility has also been found to be associated with positive diabetes-specific functioning. This modifiable cognitive factor may play a role in the relationship between illness identity and diabetes-specific functioning. This study aims to examine associations between illness identity enrichment, illness identity rejection, psychological flexibility, and aspects of diabetes-functioning, including self-management diet behavior, diabetes distress, and diabetes stigma in adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Methods: Participants were 224 adults with Type 2 Diabetes (Mage = 54.94; 49.6% female, 87.9% White) recruited from an online crowdsourcing platform. Participants took an online survey consisting of demographic information, diabetes health characteristics, and well-validated self-report measures examining illness identity, psychological flexibility, and aspects of diabetes-specific emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial vii functioning. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate Pearson correlations, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression revealed enrichment was positively associated with general diet behavior (β = .560, p < .001). Rejection was negatively associated with diet behavior (β = -.410, p = .010), and positively associated with stigma (β = 3.56, p < .001). Psychological inflexibility was found to be positively associated with diabetes stigma (β = .694, p Discussion: Findings suggest that dimensions of illness identity and psychological flexibility, when considered individually, play an important role in diabetes self-care behaviors, diabetes distress, and diabetes stigma. Consideration of illness identity integration in diabetes care may promote prevention and treatment efforts, as well as overall adjustment to living with Type 2 Diabetes. Future studies should examine associations between illness identity, specific facets of psychological flexibility, and diabetes-specific functioning. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the bidirectionality of associations, as well as how illness identity integration may change over time or across situations. Acceptance-based interventions focused on increasing illness identity enrichment and psychological flexibility may promote diabetes-specific functioning.
Recommended Citation
Bodziony, Valery, "Understanding associations between chronic illness identity, psychological flexibility, and type 2 diabetes emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial functioning." (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4119.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/4119
