Does Personality and Anxiety Symptomatology Matter in the Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Adherence? A Cross-Sectional Study Among Women with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is prevalent among women with diabetes mellitus (DM). Women also tend to have a higher level of neuroticism. Both underlying neuroticism trait and anxiety symptoms can have an impact on social functioning and diabetes care. This study aimed to determine the relationships between neuroticism and anxiety symptoms, and other clinical and psychosocial variables, among females with DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among women with DM in a Malaysian university hospital. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were acquired, including perceptions on religious practice, social support, and diabetic self-care. Study subjects completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) and the Big-Five Inventory (BFI). The neuroticism subscale of the BFI was used for analysis. RESULTS: There were 141 subjects (Median age: 64.0 years, IQR: 52.5–71.0 years) with a median duration of DM of 12.0 years (IQR: 6.0–20.0 years). Neuroticism scores correlated positively with the GAD-7 scores (Spearman’s rho: 0.406; p<0.001). In bivariate analyses, neuroticism also had significant associations with employment status (p=0.023), religious practice (p=0.006), perceived social support (p=0.001), and perceived ability of diabetic self-management (p<0.001). In the regression analysis, after controlling for employment, religious practice, and social support, neuroticism remained associated with anxiety (p<0.001) and diabetic self-management (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Neuroticism was related to a poorer subjective sense of diabetic management and a greater level of anxiety among women with DM. Improving self-efficacy in managing diabetes may help patients coping with anxiety symptoms among those with neuroticism traits, contributing to better treatment among women with DM