Self‐Care Management and Negative Automatic Thoughts Among Individuals With Chronic Diseases: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Fuat Kahraman, Erkan Durar, Mustafa DurmuşABSTRACT
Aim
This study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic illness self‐care management on negative automatic thoughts among individuals with chronic conditions.
Design
A descriptive cross‐sectional design was employed.
Methods
The study was conducted between January 5 and May 20, 2023, with 439 individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases (including circulatory, nervous and endocrine system disorders) residing in Turkey. Participants were selected utilising a non‐probability convenience sampling method. Data were collected entirely through virtual outreach and web‐based survey methodologies meticulously structured in accordance with the CHERRIES and STROBE guidelines. Data collection instruments included a Socio‐demographic Information Form, the Self‐Care Management in Chronic Diseases Scale (SCMCDS) and the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ). Parametric data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t ‐tests, one‐way ANOVA with Benjamini–Hochberg False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis.
Results
The mean age of the participants was 49.28 ± 18.53. Total ATQ scores exhibited statistically significant differences based on income status, occupation, mental health status, quality of life, smoking habits and alcohol consumption ( p < 0.05). A low‐level, statistically significant negative association was identified between the global Negative Automatic Thoughts Scale and the global Chronic Illness Self‐Care Management Scale [ r (439) = −0.159, p < 0.05]. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that self‐care management sub‐dimensions significantly predicted negative automatic thoughts, collectively accounting for 37.9% of the explained variance [ F (2, 436) = 134.480, p < 0.05, R 2 adj = 0.379]. According to the standardised regression coefficients, social protection ( β = −0.597, p < 0.05) and self‐protection ( β = 0.352, p < 0.05) emerged as the significant predictors within the multivariate model.
Conclusion
Enhanced global self‐care management substantially diminishes negative automatic thoughts in individuals with chronic conditions, primarily driven by the adaptive capacity of social protection mechanisms. Comprehensive nurse‐led counselling programs, specific task‐oriented screening tools and targeted cognitive‐behavioural interventions should be systematically integrated into primary healthcare services to reduce immediate cognitive distortions, mitigate anxiety‐induced hypervigilance and enhance functional self‐care behaviours across health networks.
Patient or Public Contribution
Participants voluntarily contributed data regarding their self‐care management practices and negative automatic thoughts. Neither the patients nor the public were involved in the study design, conduct, reporting, or dissemination plans.