Pain and Functional Impairment as Mediators of the Link between Medical Symptoms and Depression in Type 2 Diabetes
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2013
Keywords
Diabetes, Depression, Pain, Functional impairment, BMI (body mass index)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-011-9210-5
Abstract
Background: Among people with diabetes, depression is more common and is associated with greater morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of mechanisms underlying the link between poor health and depression is needed. Pain and functional impairment may account for the effect of poor health on depression in diabetes.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine whether pain and functional impairment mediate the association between diabetes-related medical symptoms and depression in type 2 diabetes.
Method: Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (N = 77) completed the following measures: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Diabetes Symptom Checklist (DSC), and Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Body mass index (BMI) was computed using height and weight data from medical records. Mediation and linear regression analyses were conducted.
Results: Pain and functional impairment made significant, independent contributions to depression. Functional impairment mediated the link between diabetes-related medical symptoms and depression. Pain mediated the association between higher BMI and depression.
Conclusion: Pain and functional impairment appear to play important, independent roles in depression in type 2 diabetes. Mediation analyses suggest the following: 1. diabetes-related medical problems increase functional impairment, which in turn leads to greater depression; and 2. the burden of carrying greater body mass (higher BMI) increases pain, which leads to increased depression.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, v. 20, issue 1, p. 22-29
Scholar Commons Citation
Sacco, William P.; Bykowski, Cathy A.; and Mayhew, Laura L., "Pain and Functional Impairment as Mediators of the Link between Medical Symptoms and Depression in Type 2 Diabetes" (2013). Psychology Faculty Publications. 909.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/909
