Attachment styles, illness perception and quality of life in patients with type I diabetes

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate attachment styles, illness perception and quality of life in patients with type I diabetes. 300 adults (172 females and 128 males) with type I diabetes completed the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI; Besharat, 2005), The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ; Boardbent, Petrie, Main & Weinman, 2006) and (D-39; Boyer & Earp, 1997) There were positive correlations between secure attachment style, personal control, coherence, and quality of life. Also, avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles, consequence, identity, concern, and emotional response have negative correlations with quality of life. Results of stepwise regression analysis revealed that the influences of three attachment styles on quality of life were partly mediated by illness perception. Secure, ambivalence and avoidant attachment styles and illness perception subscales could explain the variance of quality of life in type I diabetics. These results can be helpful in devising preventive policies, determining high risk patients and planning for psychological interventions.