Self-Compassion Reduces the Destructive Effects of Perceived Stress on Psychological Well-Being and Self-Care Behaviors: Results from Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Objective: This study investigated the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship of perceived stress with physiological well-being and self-care behaviors among patients suffering from type II diabetes mellitus (T۲DM). Materials and Methods: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, ۳۶۹ patients with T۲DM were selected through purposive and consecutive sampling from the cities of Rasht and Rezvanshahr (Northern Iran) in ۲۰۲۰-۲۱. The participants completed the perceived stress scale (PSS-۴), summary of diabetes self-care activities (SDSCA) questionnaire, Ryff's scale of psychological well-being (RSPWB), and self-compassion scale (SCS-SF). The data were processed through structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS-۲۴. Bootstrapping was carried out in MACRO to analyze the mediating relationships. Results: The perceived stress had a negative and significant correlation with self-compassion (r= -۰.۴۵۶), psychological well-being (r= -۰.۶۹۹), and self-care behaviors (r= -۰.۶۷۱) (For all cases P< ۰.۰۱). In addition, self-compassion had a positive and significant relationship with psychological well-being (r= ۰.۷۶۰) and self-care behaviors (r= ۰.۶۵۷) (P< ۰.۰۱). The modified structural model had the desired fitting with the collected data (CFI= ۰.۹۵۵, RMSEA= ۰.۰۷۹, χ۲/df= ۲.۸۴۲). Following the bootstrapping analysis, self-compassion significantly mediates the relationship between perceived stress, psychological well-being (P< ۰.۰۰۰۱), and self-care behaviors (P< ۰.۰۰۰۱). Conclusion: Self-compassion can serve as a shield against and reduce the destructive effects of stress on the psychological well-being and self-care behaviors of diabetic patients. The beneficial effects of self-compassion can be used in diabetic psychotherapy protocols to improve psychological well-being and self-care behaviors.

کلیدواژه ها:

Stress ، Psychological ، Self-compassion ، Diabetes type ۲ ، Self-care