Pyscho-Social Wellbeing and Diabetics Management Behavior Among Type I Adult Diabetes Patients: A Study of the Ethiopian Diabetes Association.
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Date
2025-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study examines the psychosocial well-being and diabetes management behaviors among Ethiopian adults with Type 1 diabetes, focusing on depression, anxiety, stress, diabetes-related fear, and self-care practices. A cross-sectional design was employed, with 342 participants recruited through stratified random sampling from the Ethiopian Diabetes Association in Addis Ababa. Standardized measures, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), Fear of Diabetes Scale (FDS), Diabetes Distress Scale (DSS), Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), and Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ), were used to assess key variables. Results revealed significant psychosocial challenges, with 48.5% of participants reporting mild psychological distress and 7.6% experiencing severe distress on the DASS. Diabetes-specific measures indicated even greater severity, with 71.1% reporting high stress on the DSS and 15.8% exhibiting severe fear on the FDS. While 81.9% demonstrated moderate self-care adherence on the SDSCA, the DSMQ identified 24.3% with severe management difficulties. Regression analyses highlighted strong predictive relationships, particularly between diabetes-related fear and stress (R² = 0.63, p < 0.001). The findings underscore the disproportionate psychosocial burden in this population compared to Western samples, significant gaps between perceived and actual self-management competencies, and the critical role of diabetes-specific fears in overall distress. These results emphasize the need for integrated psychosocial support within diabetes care in low-resource settings. The study contributes to global health literature by characterizing unique mental health challenges in Ethiopia’s diabetes population and provides empirical support for culturally adapted interventions targeting disease-specific fears and stress. Keywords: Type 1 diabetes, psychosocial well-being, Diabetes management behavior
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Type 1 diabetes, psychosocial well-being, Diabetes management behavior