Factors associated with quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

Quality of life (QoL) is an important patient-centered outcome in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Psychosocial and self-management factors, including Perception of illness, illness acceptance, self-care behaviors, and perceived social support, have been associated with QoL, but their relative associations remain insufficiently understood. This study examined these associations among patients with T2DM. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 305 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires assessing general quality of life (SF12), illness acceptance, Perception of illness, self-care behaviors, and perceived social support. We used descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and linear regression analyses. The mean quality-of-life score was 32.91 (SD = 7.49), indicating a moderate level of QoL. Men reported significantly higher QoL than women (34.48 vs. 31.63, P = 0.001). Significant differences were also observed by educational level ( P < 0.001) and family income ( P = 0.002). Quality of life was positively correlated with illness acceptance ( r = 0.565, P < 0.001), Perception of illness ( r = 0.579, P < 0.001), self-care behaviors ( r = 0.284, P < 0.001), and perceived social support ( r = 0.357, P = 0.001). In the multiple variable models, Perception of illness (β = 0.380, P < 0.001), illness acceptance (β = 0.359, P < 0.001), and perceived social support (β = 0.147, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with QoL, whereas self-care behaviors were not (β = 0.024, P = 0.604). The model explained 47.5% of the variance in QoL. Exploratory regression-based analyses indicated indirect statistical associations of Perception of illness and perceived social support with quality of life through illness acceptance. Perception of illness, illness acceptance, and perceived social support were significantly associated with quality of life among patients with T2DM. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving patients’ understanding and acceptance of their illness, alongside strengthening social support networks, may contribute substantially to enhancing quality of life. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm the causal pathways identified in this study.