Investigating the Effect of Stress Coping Skills Training on Anxiety and Quality of Life in Elderly Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Referring to Healthcare Centers in Shiraz City, Iran

Abstract

Background: A significant increase in the elderly population with chronic diseases, including diabetes, has been accompanied by numerous challenges worldwide. Stress is recognized as one of the influential factors in the occurrence and exacerbation of diabetes complications. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of stress-coping skills training on the levels of anxiety and quality of life (QOL) in elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes in Shiraz City, Iran, in 2018. Methods: The present study was conducted using a semi-experimental educational intervention design on 100 elderly individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention and control. After conducting pre-tests and blood glucose tests, stress-coping skills training sessions were held over 6 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, including primary and secondary assessment of diabetes, training on how to deal with the stress caused by the disease in order to reduce the symptoms of the patients, assigning homework with the aim of calming the body, getting familiar with cognitive concepts, a test of dealing with negative thoughts, concentration of thought, and various other materials. Three months after the last session, post-tests and blood tests were conducted for both groups. The control group received their regular treatment program until the end of the study. The assessment tools used included a demographic information questionnaire, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Diabetes Quality of Life questionnaire (DQOL). The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square test. Findings: The intervention and control groups did not have a significant difference in demographic characteristics, and also before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the mean scores of QOL, anxiety, and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels between the two groups. The findings of the study indicate that after the intervention, the QOL of the intervention group and its dimensions significantly increased, and anxiety significantly decreased (P < 0.001). However, a significant change in the level of HbA1C was not observed in the intervention group (P > 0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that stress-coping skills training has a positive impact on reducing anxiety and improving the QOL in elderly individuals with diabetes and can be considered an effective educational method in this area. However, these skills did not have a significant effect on the level of HbA1C, and further investigation is needed in long-term studies and different age and gender groups. © 2025, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.