Study of the Sense of Coherence and Religious Coping in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes as a chronic disease impairs the patientchr('39')s physical, mental, functional, and social well-being. In the meantime, spiritual support by establishing a religious coping and sense of coherence can improve adaptation to changes in the patient. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the sense of cohesion and religious coping in patients with type 2 diabetes.

This descriptive-correlational study included 120 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Emdadi Hospital, Abhar, Iran, in 2017. The patients who met the criteria were selected through available sampling method. The data were collected using the demographic characteristics form, Antonovskychr('39')s sense of coherence, and Pargamentchr('39')s religious coping. Following that, the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16) through descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

According to the results, the mean values of positive and negative religious coping in patients with type 2 diabetes were obtained at 17.22±3 and 4.77±3.8, respectively. Moreover, the mean score of coherence in these patients was determined at 116±17.1. There was a statistically significant relationship between positive religious coping and sense of cohesion (P=0.001).

Considering the positive effect of religious coping on improving the sense of coherence and reducing mental problems in patients with type 2 diabetes, this approach could be beneficial as a new intervention in patients with chronic diabetes.