Presenting the Model of Health Outcomes of Diabetic Patients based on Stressful Life Events with the Mediating Role of Diabetes Self-Compassion and Mindfulness

Relatively high prevalence of diabetes, high costs of its treatment, disability and death indicate the need for further research to better understand and efforts to reduce psychological problems in people with diabetes. This study was aimed to investigate the mediating role of diabetes self-compassion and mindfulness in the relationship between stressful life events and health outcomes of diabetic patients.

This study is fundamental in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlation in terms of method. The statistical society of this study consisted of all patients with diabetes referred to Zabol Diabetes Clinic in the period from March to July 2021 (N = 550). The study sample consisted of 387 patients who were selected by convenience sampling method and answered the stressful life events questionnaire, diabetes self-compassion scale and five facet mindfulness questionnaire. The HBA1C, FBS and BS indices were used to measure health outcomes. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, structural equation modeling and SPSS software version 24 and LISREL 8.8.

The results showed that the direct path of stressful events to diabetes self- compassion and mindfulness was significant (p <0.01) but not significant to health outcomes (p <0.01). The direct path of diabetes self-compassion and mindfulness to health outcomes was significant (p <0.01). The indirect relationship between stressful events and health outcomes through diabetes self-compassion and mindfulness was significant (p <0.01).

According to the results of this study, educational and intervention programs based on self-compassion and mindfulness along with medical and pharmacological interventions can be useful for the health outcomes of diabetic patients.