The Relationship Between Personality Traits and Compliance in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Compliance plays a crucial role in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus. Compliance indica-tors are influenced by various factors, including the treatment regimens characteristics (i.e. biological and pharmacological properties of prescribed medications) and the psychological traits of the patients themselves. Thus, personality traits can either facilitate or impede compliance. This study explores the connection between personality traits (optimism, neuroticism, and perfectionism) and compliance in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. A total of 68 participants (Type 1 diabetes (n=33)) complet-ed questionnaires assessing their personality traits and compliance levels. The Test of Dispositional Optimism, Neurotic Personality Traits questionnaire, Multidimensional scale of perfectionism, and Compliance Level questionnaire were applied. The findings revealed that patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes showed similar personality profiles, with moderate levels of optimism and perfection-ism, and elevated levels of neurotic traits. They also demonstrated high overall compliance. The results indicated positive correlations between optimism, neurotic traits related to social and cognitive passivi-ty and hypochondriasis, and compliance. Patients with Type 1 diabetes exhibited an inverse associa-tion between self-doubt and compliance. Psychological interventions targeting neurotic traits, exces-sive perfectionism, and fostering optimism may enhance compliance in diabetes patients.