Psychosocial Correlates of Diabetes Self-management Practices

Background: Self-Management is a crucial regimen for patients with diabetes mellitus. Many factors have affected patients' self-management practice including psychosocial factors. Literature revealed contradictory results concerning the psychosocial correlates of patients' self-management practices. Therefore, this study assessed the psychosocial cor-relates of diabetes self-management practices among Jordanian diabetic patients. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design was utilized to collect data (conducted in the middle re-gion of Jordan in 2015) from 341 Jordanian outpatients with diabetes using self-reported questionnaires (Social Sup-port Scale, CES-D, and Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities) and chart review. Results: Participants reported practice rate of 2.85/ 7 (SD=1.3), with diet practice the most (M=3.66, SD=1.5) and exercise the least (M=1.53, SD=2.1). Participants reported receiving social support (M=3.23, SD=1.3) less than needed (M=3.39, SD=1.3). High levels of depressive symptoms were reported (M=17.1, SD= 11.4). Diet practices had significant positive correlation with family support attitude (r= .266, P= .000) and negative correlation with depressive symptoms (r= - .114, P= .037). Testing blood sugar significantly correlated with both support needed (r= .144, P= .008) and support received (r= .166, P= .002). Conclusion: Jordanian DM patients were found to practice less than optimum DM self-management practices, and to consider diet practices than exercise practices. This study confirmed that the subcategories of DM self-care manage-ment should be considered rather than considering the general plan.