title: Self-reported diabetes self-management competence and support from healthcare providers in achieving autonomy are negatively associated with diabetes distress in adults with Type 1 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the associations of self-perceived competence in diabetes management and autonomy support from healthcare providers with diabetes distress in adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus that is not optimally controlled [HbA(1c) ≥ 64 mmol/mol (8.0%)].
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study comprised blood sampling and three self-report questionnaires, the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale, the Perceived Competence in Diabetes Scale and a measure of autonomy support by healthcare providers, the Health Care Climate Questionnaire. We fitted blockwise linear regression models to assess the associations between Problem Areas in Diabetes score and the variables of interest (autonomy support and perceived diabetes competence), controlling for clinical and sociodemographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the study sample [n = 178; mean age 36.7 (±10.7) years], 31.5% had long-term complications and 43.2% reported elevated (≥40) Problem Areas in Diabetes scores. A significant negative association was found between autonomy support and Problem Areas in Diabetes score (B = -3.61, P = 0.001), indicating that lower autonomy support was associated with greater diabetes distress. When perceived competence was controlled, it mediated the association of autonomy support with diabetes distress, reducing it to non-significance. There was a significant negative association between perceived competence and Problem Areas in Diabetes score (B = -8.89, P < 0.001), indicating that lower perceived competence was associated with greater perceived distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an indirect (fully mediated) relationship between autonomy support and diabetes distress; autonomy support was associated with increased perceived competence, which, in turn, was associated with reduced distress. Healthcare providers' communication styles enhancing perceived competence through autonomy support may contribute to effective treatment for people with Type 1 diabetes and suboptimum glycaemic control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway.|Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.|Bergen University College, Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Norway.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mohn
authors.affiliation: Bergen University College, Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Norway.|Department of Pediatrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graue
authors.affiliation: Haukeland University Hospital, Centre for Clinical Research, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Assmus
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Women's and Children's Health, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet and the Institute of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zoffmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: B Thordarson
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peyrot
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.|Department for Research and Development, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rokne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012648:Self Care; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human