The Association between Diabetes Complications, Diabetes Distress, and Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

This study investigated the association between diabetes complications, diabetes distress, and depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 600 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this study. Data were collected using the Diabetes Distress Scale and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. The results showed that both diabetes complications and diabetes distress were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and diabetes distress attenuated the association between diabetes complications and depressive symptoms. The Sobel test confirmed the mediating effect of diabetes distress. Patients with both diabetes complications and diabetes distress had a higher risk of depressive symptoms than those with diabetes complications or diabetes distress alone. This study indicates that the positive association between diabetes complications and depressive symptoms is persistent and mediated by diabetes distress, and the comorbidity of diabetes complications and diabetes distress has an additive interaction effect on depressive symptoms.