psychosocial correlates of diabetes self-management practices

Background: self-management is a crucial regimen for patients with diabetes mellitus. many factors have affected patients' self-management practice including psychosocial factors. literature revealed contradictory results concerning the psychosocial correlates of patients' self-management practices. therefore, this study assessed the psychosocial correlates of diabetes self-management practices among jordanian diabetic patients. methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design was utilized to collect data (conducted in the middle region of jordan in 2015) from 341 jordanian outpatients with diabetes using self-reported questionnaires (social support scale, ces-d, and summary of diabetes self-care activities) and chart review. results: participants reported practice rate of 2.85/ 7 (sd=1.3), with diet practice the most (m=3.66, sd=1.5) and exercise the least (m=1.53, sd=2.1). participants reported receiving social support (m=3.23, sd=1.3) less than needed (m=3.39, sd=1.3). high levels of depressive symptoms were reported (m=17.1, sd= 11.4). diet practices had significant positive correlation with family support attitude (r= .266, p= .000) and negative correlation with depressive symptoms (r= - .114, p= .037). testing blood sugar significantly correlated with both support needed (r= .144, p= .008) and support received (r= .166, p= .002). conclusion: jordanian dm patients were found to practice less than optimum dm self-management practices, and to consider diet practices than exercise practices. this study confirmed that the subcategories of dm self-care management should be considered rather than considering the general plan.