Diabetes Burnout: the Influence of Distress and Spirituality

Abstract

Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a lifelong, chronic metabolic disorder that affects people physically, emotionally and psychologically. For many, the burden of self-management of diabetes can be overwhelming especially when trying to juggle that with a career, family and social life. This strain can precipitate many psychogenic conditions in T2DM patients of all ages and sex. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional study design and purposively sampled 105 adults with T2DM. The study adapted the English version of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory to measure diabetes burnout, Diabetes Distress Scale to measure diabetes distress, and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy scale to measure the spirituality of the participants. Participants were recruited from the diabetic clinic of the University of Cape Coast Hospital in Ghana. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequency counts and percentages), Pearson‘s moment correlation coefficient and mediation analysis using the Hayes process. The study found moderate levels of diabetes burnout and spirituality and low levels of diabetes distress. The study also found spirituality to significantly mediate the relationship between diabetes distress and diabetes burnout. It is recommended that caregivers and policy address the psychogenic areas of diabetes. It is also recommended that T2DM patients‘ spirituality be addressed in caregiving.