Associations between complication risk perception, gender role stress, and symptom management self-efficacy in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Betül Çakmak, Halime Abay, Nazan ÇelikAbstract
Aims:
This study aimed to examine the associations among complication risk perception, gender role stress, and symptom management self-efficacy in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and to identify factors associated with these constructs.
Methods:
This analytical cross-sectional study was performed at the endocrinology outpatient clinic of a hospital. The sample consisted of 500 Type 2 DM patients (250 women, 250 men). Study data were gathered through the Individual Information Form (IIF), Risk Perception Survey–Diabetes Mellitus Scale (RPS-DM), Symptom Management Scale for Self-Efficacy (SMSSE), Feminine Gender Role Stress Scale (FGRSS), and Masculine Gender Role Stress Scale (MGRSS). The data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, Spearman correlation coefficients, and binary logistic regression.
Results:
It was determined that both in women and men, it was found that as gender role stress increased, composite and environmental risk perceptions increased, and symptom management self-efficacy decreased ( p < 0.001). According to logistic regression analysis, when risk knowledge increases in women, self-efficacy will increase (OR: 0.595), and composite risk perception will decrease (OR: 7.377). When composite risk perception increases in men, self-efficacy will decrease (OR: 16.933).
Conclusions:
Complication risk perception and gender role stress were associated with symptom management self-efficacy among patients with Type 2 DM, with these associations differing by sex. Future interventional studies are needed to determine whether addressing these factors improves symptom management for self-efficacy. The findings may also help nurses recognize sex-specific differences when planning individualized patient care.