Role of personality type in effect of stress on glycosylated haemoglobin and cortisol in type II diabetic women

Diabetes is the source of stress for people suffering from the disease. Diabetes-related stress has numerous negative psychological effects. This study was conducted aiming at determining the role of type D personality in the effect of stress on HbAlc and cortisol secretion.

the present correlational study which was a retrospective research, was conducted in 2011 and 2012 on all women with type II diabetes, who were member of Yazd Diabetes Research Centre, 80 patients were selected by multistage cluster sampling. They completed some questionnaires including the depression scale, anxiety scale (DASS), stress as well as type D personality questionnaires. Then, their fasting blood was tested and the effect of stress and personality type on HbAlc and cortisol level was evaluated. Data was analyzed using SPSS 18 software and statistical tests including Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis.

There were significant relationship between stress and personality type; cortisol and HbAlc; and cortisol and HbAlc. Based on the results of the regression analysis, stress factor by itself (p=0.001), and together with personality type (p=0.001) had effect on HbAlc. Moreover, stress factor by itself (p=0.002), and together with personality type (p=0.001) had effect on cortisol level. Stress and personality type scales explained 0.312 of the HbAlc variance and 0.28 of the cortisol variance.

Stress and personality type are correlated with the level of cortisol serum and HbAlc. Moreover, personality type acts in line with the increase in the impact of stress on patients with diabetes.