03/04/2025
By Maureen Martin
The Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, Solomont School of Nursing, invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Ploypapus Jarustanaput on “Social Support, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Well-Being Among Thai Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.”
Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Location: This will be a virtual defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact Ploypapus_Jarustanaput@student.uml.edu and committee chair Ainat_Koren@uml.edu at least 24 hours prior to the defense to request access to the meeting.
Committee:
Ainat Koren, Ph.D., DNP, PMHNP, Professor, Solomont School of Nursing, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, UMass Lowell
Yuan Zhang, Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor, Solomont School of Nursing, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, UMass Lowell
Jason Rydberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell
Abstract:
Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition requiring comprehensive care beyond glucose management, with global cases rising due to lifestyle changes. Type 2 diabetes predominates worldwide, including in Thailand, where its prevalence is climbing. Poorly managed diabetes can lead to complications impacting psychological well-being (PWB). Positive PWB correlates with improved glycemic control and self-management, whereas poor PWB is associated with depression and anxiety. Social support and self-compassion are important for PWB, but their impact on PWB in Thai individuals with type 2 diabetes—within a culture emphasizing family bonds, social ties, and Buddhist values—remains underexplored. Understanding these relationships in Thai culture is essential for developing tailored interventions and nursing care.
Aims: This study aims to (1) synthesize the literature on factors influencing PWB in individuals with type 2 diabetes, with a particular focus on Thailand, while also comparing these factors across Western and Eastern countries, and (2) investigate the impact of social support and self-compassion on PWB in Thai adults with type 2 diabetes, using the Biopsychosocial Model as a framework and examining self-compassion's mediating role.
Designs: An integrative review and a quantitative cross-sectional study design.
Methods: The integrative review followed the framework of Whittemore and Knafl (2005), guided by the Biopsychosocial model to identify factors influencing PWB in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Guided by the review's findings, 179 Thai adults with type 2 diabetes were recruited through convenience sampling from Diabetes Mellitus Clinics in secondary and tertiary hospitals in northern Thailand. Five survey instruments were used: Sociodemographic and Diabetes Characteristic Questionnaire, the PRQ-85 Part II, the Self-Compassion Scale, the Summary Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being.
Data was collected from July to September 2024 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, multiple linear regressions, and mediation analysis.
Findings: An integrative review of 27 studies identified sociodemographic factors, self-care behaviors, and self-management empowerment as key resources for PWB across all regions. Although Buddhist practice was identified as an important factor in studies from Thailand, these studies lacked the emphasis on social support and positive psychological constructs like self-compassion, rooted in Buddhist teachings, which were more commonly found in Western and Eastern studies. Results from the cross-sectional survey with Thai individuals with type 2 diabetes showed moderate levels of social support, self-compassion and PWB. Social support and self-compassion were positively correlated with PWB (r = 0.596, p < 0.01, and r = 0.692, p < 0.01, respectively). Multiple regression analyses revealed that social support and self-compassion significantly predicted PWB, with a combined effect that accounted for 53.7% of the variance (Adjusted R² = 0.537, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis confirmed that self-compassion significantly mediated the relationship between social support and PWB, accounting for approximately 45.9% of the total effect.
Conclusion: The findings are valuable for stakeholders in diabetes care, including healthcare providers, nursing educators, policymakers, and researchers. This study highlights the need to consider regional and cultural differences when addressing PWB in type 2 diabetes and emphasizes the role of social support and self-compassion in promoting PWB among Thai individuals with type 2 diabetes. It also underscores the importance of psychosocial support and offers valuable insights for improving interventions to enhance PWB in diabetes management.
Keywords: Psychological well-being, Social support, Self-compassion, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Thai Adults