Selected factors determining a way of coping with stress in type 2 diabetic patients

The aim of the study was to examine factors which determine stress coping styles in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients, with regard to selected demographic variables, clinical diabetes-related variables and selected psychical variables (anxiety level and assessment of depressive disorders).

50 T2D patients, aged 59.9 ± 10.2 years were assessed by Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). In the statistical analysis simple and multivariable logistic regression models were used.

Variables significantly increasing the selection risk of stress coping style different from preferred task-oriented strategy in a simple logistic regression model are: hypoglycemia within three months prior to the research: odds ratio (OR) = 6.86 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-37.61), taking antidepressants or neuroleptics: OR =15.42 (95% CI 2.42-98.33), severe depression in Beck's scale: OR = 84.00 (95% CI 6.51-1083.65), high state-anxiety level: OR = 9.60 (95% CI 1.08-85.16), and high trait-anxiety level: OR = 18.40 (95%CI 2.96-114.31), but in a multivariable model, diagnosed depression is the strongest factor: OR = 32.38 (95% CI 4.94-212.13).

In T2D patients, the strategy to cope with stress appears to be mostly influenced by psychical predisposition.