Investigation of anxiety and depression symptom co-morbidity in a community sample with type 2 diabetes: Associations with indicators of self-care

OBJECTIVES: Ascertain the association of elevated co-occurring anxiety and depression symptoms, elevated anxiety symptoms alone or elevated depression symptoms alone with indicators of self-care behaviours in people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Data from a community sample of 1,990 people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for less than 10 years were assessed. All participants took part in a telephone interview. Questionnaires examined depression, anxiety, health, and indicators of self-care (physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, diet and smoking). Data were assessed with cross tabulations, ANOVA and logistic regression. RESULTS: Groups who met criteria for elevated co-occurring anxiety and depression symptoms, elevated anxiety symptoms and elevated depression symptoms were more likely to report poor eating habits. Meeting criteria for either elevated depression symptoms (with and without anxiety) was also associated with an increased likelihood of not meeting physical activity recommendations. Those people with elevated depression and anxiety scores were more likely to be a current smoker. CONCLUSIONS: Those people who meet criteria for elevated anxiety and/or depression symptoms are less likely to report adhering to self-care recommendations. These associations are particularly marked in those people with elevated depression symptoms with or without co-occurring anxiety symptoms. There is a lot of evidence emphasising the importance of monitoring depressive symptoms in people with diabetes. Our results add to this, indicating that adherence to self-care recommendations should be carefully monitored in people with depression and anxiety symptoms.