Positive Sides of the Disease: Posttraumatic Growth in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that can causes positive changes, as well as psychological distress. The aim of the this study is to investigate the posttraumatic growth level of adults with type 2 diabetes and to identify the relationship among perceived social support, coping, diabetes management self-efficacy, perceived expressed emotions, and PTG in diabetes patients from non-western, developing country. The findings revealed that patients experience a moderate level of posttraumatic growth. Regression analyses showed that the severity of the disease, educational level, perceived social support, problem-focused coping, optimistic coping and the criticism/hostility dimension of expressed emotions were associated significantly with posttraumatic growth. In the conclusion part, these findings were consistent with the posttraumatic growth theory. The study reveals that professionals aiming to increase the posttraumatic growth of diabetes patients may need to focus on and facilitate perceived social support, adaptive coping strategies, and perceived expressed emotions to facilitate growth experiences.

KEYWORDS:

• posttraumatic growth
• perceived social support
• self-efficacy
• coping and perceived expressed emotions