Zeinab Shayeghian, Parisa Amiri, Maria E. Aguilar-Vafaie, Mahmoud Parvin, Kobra Roohi Gillani,
Volume 13, Issue 2 (1-2014)
Abstract
Background: Cognitive and emotional deficits in alexithymia lead to various problems in somatic
disorders and other medical conditions for example Diabetics. The aim of this study was to examine
the effect of alexithymia on relationship between self-care and control of blood sugar in type 2
diabetes patients within the Iranian social and cultural context.
Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional investigation. The study sample consisted of 100
(60 females and 40 males, aged 40 to 70 years) type 2 diabetic outpatients visiting Labbafinejad
hospital during the year 2012. Measures for data collection included demographic, anthropometric
and clinical questionnaires, the short scale for diabetes self-care activities and the diabetes-related
quality of life. Blood tests were performed to obtain HbA1c levels and other laboratory measures
related to the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software.
Results: Pearson product correlation results yielded significant negative associations between self-
care activities and alexithymia as well as HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes patients. Results of
hierarchical regression analyses indicated that diabetes-related self-care activities explained 40% of
HbA1c variance and alexithymia added explanatory variance above and beyond self-care, to jointly
explain 58% of HbA1c variance.
Conclusion: Based on the present findings, diabetes-related self-care and alexithymia predicted
HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Given the evidence on the additive validity of
alexithymia in the prediction of HbA1c levels found in the present study, attention to emotional
competencies and disorders of Iranian diabetic patients may effectively contribute to their control of
diabetes.
Zeinab Shayeghian, Parisa Amiri, Maria E. Aguilar-Vafaie, Mohammad Ali Besharat, Mahmoud Parvin, Kobra Roohi Gilani,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (5-2015)
Abstract
Background: One of the important goals in control diabetes to maintain normal levels of glycated hemoglobin, but different social and psychological factors such as social support and alexithymia play role on process of this control. The purpose of present study was to examine the role of alexithymia on the association of social support and glycated hemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The study sample consisted of 100 (60% females, 40-60 years) type 2 diabetic out-patients visiting the Labbafinejad hospital in 2013. The sample of the present study was a convenience sample. Measures of data collection included demographic and anthropometric questionnaires, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and test of glycated hemoglobin. The collected data were analyzed, using multiple regression analysis. Results: Pearson's correlation coefficients showed a significant association between better reported perceived social support and lower alexithymia and glycated hemoglobin. Results of hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that social support explained 23% and alexithymia 31% of glycated hemoglobin variance. As well as, alexithymia moderated association between perceived social support and glycated hemoglobin in patient with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: Based on the present data, alexithymia has moderate role on the association between perceived social support and glycated hemoglobin in patient with type 2 diabetes. The results of this study highlight effective psychological factors in glycated hemoglobin which can help in the conceptualization, planning and design of treatment policies for control and treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Morteza Naghipoor, Mohammad Ali Besharat,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (1-2021)
Abstract
Background: Diabetes is a common, chronic, and debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide, causing psychological, social and physical complications. Diagnosis of diabetes, new lifestyle and restrictive diet can pose many psychological problems, including depression for diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of anger, anger rumination and alexithymia in predicting symptoms of depression.
Method: 218 patients (94 males and 124 females) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes participated in the research and were asked to complete Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI), Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS).
Results: There was a positive and significant correlation between all the components of anger, anger rumination, and alexithymia with symptoms of depression, though the severity of the correlation in external anger (r=0/14**) and objective thinking (r=0/17**) was less than those of other components. Also, among the dimensions of anger, anger rumination, and alexithymia, anger arousal (p<0/05, B=0/20), angry afterthoughts (p<0/05, B=0/32), revenge thoughts (p<0/05, B=0/25), and difficulty identifying feelings (p<0/05, B=0/32) were able to predict the symptoms of depression in patients with diabetes.
Conclusion: Anger, anger rumination, and alexithymia play a major role in creating the depressive symptoms. Symptoms of depression increase the burden of the disease in patients with diabetes. Therefore, it is important to include these factors in treatment protocols and help patients with diabetes identify, describe, and express negative and positive emotions more efficiently so that they can cope with the complications of the disease better.
