Coping strategies in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus from a community in Tamaulipas, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: Identifying coping strategies among a group of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus from an urban community in Tamaulipas. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out on 215 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A sociodemographic data form and the Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) were completed. The data were processed using the statistical package SPSS version 21. The research was conducted in accordance with the regulations of the General Health Law on Research in Mexico. Results: Females accounted for the majority with a prevalence of 72.09%. Of the participants, 58.13% had adequate coping strategies, 35.37% had good coping strategies, and the remainder had poor coping strategies. In specific domains, 43.7% showed adequate emotional expression. 79.0% reported wishful thinking, 55.3% had good social support, and 32.0% exhibited low cognitive restructuring. Insufficient problem-solving avoidance was observed in 45.1%, while 33.9% had low problem-solving avoidance. Additionally, 66.0% experienced negative social withdrawal, while 30.6% exhibited moderate social withdrawal. Conclusions: Coping strategies should be considered as the physical and mental demands that need to be put into practice to promote the quality of life for individuals with a chronic illness. They are a crucial aspect in advancing or stagnating disease management, which is not transient but permanent, and when properly