RELIGIOUS COPING, PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG TYPE – 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS IN GHANA

ABSTRACT This study examined the influence of religious coping and psychosocial factors on quality of life of type-2 diabetic patients in Ghana. Social support, depression, stress, anxiety, and self-care constituted the psychosocial factors examined. A mixed method design comprising a crosssectional survey (study I) and a focus group discussion (study II) was employed. A total of 164 participants were purposively sampled for both study 1 (n=156) and study II (n=8). In study I, there were 76 Type-2 diabetic patients from the Diabetes Centre in Korle-Bu, and 80 healthy matched control individuals. They were administered questionnaires assessing their levels of depression, anxiety, stress, religious coping style, social support, self-care, and quality of life. The results of study I revealed that Type-2 diabetic patients experienced poorer quality of life than the healthy control group. Religious coping, social support, and self-care significantly improved quality of life of type-2 diabetic patients. Stress negatively predicted quality of life but depression and anxiety did not. Results from the focus group discussion with 8 type-2 diabetic patients confirmed the significant role of religiosity and social support in coping with stress associated with type-2 diabetes. The findings are discussed with reference to psychological literature and theories.