Skinner, Timothy C., and Skinner, Isabelle K. (2021) Willpower beliefs and diabetes distress: a preliminary cross-sectional study. Practical Diabetes, 38 (1). 11-16a.

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Abstract

This study aimed to explore whether beliefs about willpower are associated with emotional well-being.

A cross-sectional study of 323 people with type 2 diabetes completed a short form of the Problem Areas In Diabetes Scale and the World Health Organisation five-item well-being scale, the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire for diabetes (BIPQ) and the Implicit Willpower Beliefs to Resist Temptations (IWB-RT).

A total of 332 individuals responded. They were a mean of 61.3 (SD 11.8) years of age, 68% were from the UK, 41% were female, and 30% had completed secondary education. They had diabetes for a mean of 10.0 years (SD 8.6), with 78% taking oral antidiabetes medication, 26% taking insulin, 71% taking medication for their blood pressure and 71% taking medication for their cholesterol. After controlling for demographics, treatment characteristics and illness beliefs, holding a resource limited belief about the nature of willpower was associated with reporting higher levels of diabetes distress.

These results indicate that holding a resource limited belief about the nature of willpower may be a predisposing factor contributing to the development of diabetes distress. Longitudinal and experimental studies are required to confirm this possible causative role for willpower beliefs in the aetiology of diabetes distress.

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