A study of a couple with type 2 diabetes: dyadic adjustment and psychological morbidity

Objective: this study assessed dyadic adjustment and psychological morbidity
in type 2 diabetic patients and their partners, focusing on the role of gender.
Methods: 214 diabetic patients and their partners participated in the cross-sectional
study and were assessed on psychological morbidity (HADS) and marital
adjustment (RDAS). Data was analyzed using dyadic analysis, a statistical process
that studies the patient/partner dyads simultaneously.
Results: results revealed that the negative relationship between dyadic adjustment
and psychological morbidity in female patients was stronger than in male
diabetic patients or in partners of male diabetic patients. On the other hand, the
relationship between dyadic adjustment and psychological morbidity in partners
of diabetic men was stronger than the same relationship in partners of diabetic
women.
Conclusion: since gender is a moderator, it is important to attend to the different
needs of female and male patients and the education of diabetic patients
should be centered on the patient/partner dyad.
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)