Self-Care Management and Negative Automatic Thoughts Among Individuals With Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic illness self-care management on negative automatic thoughts among individuals with chronic conditions.

A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed.

The study was conducted between January 5 and May 20, 2023, with 439 individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases (including circulatory, nervous and endocrine system disorders) residing in Turkey. Participants were selected utilising a non-probability convenience sampling method. Data were collected entirely through virtual outreach and web-based survey methodologies meticulously structured in accordance with the CHERRIES and STROBE guidelines. Data collection instruments included a Socio-demographic Information Form, the Self-Care Management in Chronic Diseases Scale (SCMCDS) and the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ). Parametric data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA with Benjamini-Hochberg False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis.

The mean age of the participants was 49.28 ± 18.53. Total ATQ scores exhibited statistically significant differences based on income status, occupation, mental health status, quality of life, smoking habits and alcohol consumption (p < 0.05). A low-level, statistically significant negative association was identified between the global Negative Automatic Thoughts Scale and the global Chronic Illness Self-Care Management Scale [r(439) = -0.159, p < 0.05]. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that self-care management sub-dimensions significantly predicted negative automatic thoughts, collectively accounting for 37.9% of the explained variance [F(2, 436) = 134.480, p < 0.05, R² _adj = 0.379]. According to the standardised regression coefficients, social protection (β = -0.597, p < 0.05) and self-protection (β = 0.352, p < 0.05) emerged as the significant predictors within the multivariate model.

Enhanced global self-care management substantially diminishes negative automatic thoughts in individuals with chronic conditions, primarily driven by the adaptive capacity of social protection mechanisms. Comprehensive nurse-led counselling programs, specific task-oriented screening tools and targeted cognitive-behavioural interventions should be systematically integrated into primary healthcare services to reduce immediate cognitive distortions, mitigate anxiety-induced hypervigilance and enhance functional self-care behaviours across health networks.

Participants voluntarily contributed data regarding their self-care management practices and negative automatic thoughts. Neither the patients nor the public were involved in the study design, conduct, reporting, or dissemination plans.