Meaning of illness and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Investigations into personal factors influencing quality of life are important for those developing strategies to support patients with diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the influence of meaning of illness on quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Veterans from primary care clinics in the southeastern United States completed a questionnaire including questions from the validated 5-scale Meaning of Illness Questionnaire (MIQ). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models investigated the physical and mental components of quality of life with the 5 MIQ factors.


RESULTS
The sample comprised 302 Black and White veterans. The physical component of quality of life (PCS) was positively associated with type of stress/attitude of harm (β = 2.43, CI: 0.94 to 3.93) and challenge/motivation/hope (β = 3.02, CI: 0.40 to 5.64) after adjustment, whereas the mental component of quality of life (MCS) was positively associated with the degree of stress/change in commitment (β = 2.58, CI: 0.78 to 4.38), and negatively associated with challenge/motivation/hope (β = -2.55, CI: -4.99 to -0.11).


CONCLUSIONS
Attitudes of challenge, motivation and hope had opposite effects on mental and physical components of quality of life in this sample of veterans. Additionally, whereas, the type of stress and attitude towards harm or loss was associated with the physical component, the degree of stress and change in commitments was associated with the mental component. This suggests addressing the meaning of an illness may be complex but is an important consideration in improving both physical and mental components of quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Health Equity and Rural Outreach Innovation Center (HEROIC), Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC; Center for Health Disparities Research, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Rebekah J
RJ
Walker
Health Equity and Rural Outreach Innovation Center (HEROIC), Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC; Center for Health Disparities Research, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Cheryl P
CP
Lynch
Center for Health Disparities Research, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Joni
J
Strom Williams
Center for Health Disparities Research, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Delia
D
Voronca
Health Equity and Rural Outreach Innovation Center (HEROIC), Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC; Center for Health Disparities Research, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Electronic address: egedel@musc.edu.
Leonard E
LE
Egede
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D058014:Veterans Health
Diabetes; Meaning of illness; Mental health; Physical health; Quality of life