Evaluation of selected psychological parameters: Perception of happiness and hope of success in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Introduction. Happiness and hope are important elements of mental health. One of the main goals of medical care, including diabetes care, is to achieve psychological wellbeing in patients, including a sense of happiness and purpose in life. Materials and Methods. During educational workshops, a study of the level of happiness and hope for success was carried out in a group of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). 96 patients with T1DM filled out an anonymous questionnaire about subjective happiness (SHS) and a questionnaire about hope for success (KNS). Results. People older than 50 years of age were characterized by a higher level of happiness than patients aged 18-26. No gender differences were observed for this parameter. In terms of hope for success, patients with T1DM did not differ from the general population in the general result or the two subscales. Men had a higher conviction about the ability to find solutions than women. Patients aged 18 to 26 years were characterized by a significantly lower overall result in the KNS test than older age groups. Patients aged 18 to 26 also had a significantly lower conviction about the ability to find solutions compared to other age groups. Conclusions. Young adults aged 18 to 26 years are a group particularly vulnerable to lower feelings of happiness, lower hope for success, and lower belief in the ability to find solutions, compared to older age groups. Elderly patients over 50 years have good coping mechanisms and believe that their actions can bring good results.