Psychological Well-Being in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease, and focusing merely on its medical management is not sufficient. The integration of psychological health is equally important. The present study undertakes a scoping review related to psychological well-being (PWB) among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), addressing various populations, geographical areas, methodologies and associated health outcomes. Google Scholar, PubMed, Crossref, Semantic Scholar, and Scopus databases were used to identify papers published between 2013-2024 (November), in English, by following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Out of 22 studies reviewed in this article, 14 were cross-sectional and 8 were quasi-experimental studies, conducted across various countries. The results indicated that the Ryff PWB scale was used most often to assess PWB. People with diabetes moderately adhered to diet and physical activities but less so to medication. PWB and self-care behaviour were less frequent among those with perceived stress, depression, and anxiety. PWB was positively associated with self-efficacy, emotional regulation, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility. The review indicated the effectiveness of various interventions designed to increase PWB. The findings show a need for the integration of these interventions in diabetes management programmes. Healthcare models must take into account the physical and cultural aspects of healthcare settings. Further, longitudinal, qualitative, mixed-method and randomised controlled trial (RCT) studies are required that focus on PWB in T2DM patients.