Relationship between Self-Care Behavior and Early Maladaptive Schemas in People with Type 2 Diabetes: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies

Introduction: This study investigated the mediating role of coping strategies in relation to self-care behaviors with early maladaptive schemas in people with type 2 diabetes. Method: This descriptive, correlational research was conducted on patients referring to diabetes clinics in Tehran, 2021. In this study, 200 patients with type 2 diabetes were selected through convenience sampling. Research data were collected using Miller’s health attitude scale (1982), Young’s schema questionnaire (1995) and the coping strategies questionnaire of Lazarus and Folkman (1980). Data analyze was done using SPSS version 25 and Smart-PLS version 3 was used to fit the model. Results: The results showed that early maladaptive schemas have a direct and significant linear relationship with self-care behaviors (r = -0.630). Also, early maladaptive schemas have an indirect and significant linear relationship with self-care behaviors with the mediating role of coping strategies. The research model had a good fit and it can be said that 36% of self-care behaviors caused by diabetes are explained by coping strategies and early maladaptive schemas. Conclusion: In order to improve the level of self-care behaviors of people with type 2 diabetes, attention should be paid to the early maladaptive schemas and coping strategies.