ABSTRACT
This study investigated the impact of anxiety and depression on self-care activities among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using a longitudinal, ex-post-facto design. Concepts from the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and Albert Bandura's work exploring self-efficacy were used to inform this study. Data were collected from primary care clinics providing social work-led integrated care to adults with T2DM. Results showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and self-care from the first to the third clinic visits. Findings indicated a significant relationship between anxiety and general diet scores, but anxiety did not have a statistically significant impact on any other self-care activities. No significant relationships were observed between depression and self-care, which was surprising given previous research. Findings have implications for working with adults with T2DM and provide directions for future research in understanding the relationship between mood and self-care among patients with T2DM.
