A systematic review of the relationships among psychosocial factors and coping in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Melissa A McCoy, Laurie A Theeke
PMID 31728402WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with type 2 diabetes who had more social support and used active or problem-focused coping reported less distress and better adjustment; avoidance and threat-focused coping were linked to more anxiety and depression.
Key findings
01Greater social support was linked to better coping, lower emotional distress and improved glycemic control.
02Positive coping, including problem-focused coping, was linked to better adjustment and lower HbA1c, while negative coping was linked to more anxiety and depression.
03Women with type 2 diabetes reported lower social support and more negative coping strategies than men in the included studies.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most included studies were descriptive or cross-sectional and used convenience samples, so they cannot show that coping causes better diabetes outcomes. The review included few intervention studies, so it cannot establish which coping or psychosocial program works. The mindfulness program summarized was a one-arm pilot, so its improvements cannot be separated from time, attention or other factors. The studies came from many countries, so findings may not apply to a specific culture or health-care system. Not all studies measured important factors such as marital status, socioeconomic status or living situation. Age, gender and cultural differences in coping were not consistently studied.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that coping or mindfulness programs improve diabetes control from this review. Most included studies were descriptive and cross-sectional, and the mindfulness program described was a one-arm pilot, so the findings show associations, not treatment effects.