Preferred level of categorization as a strategy to manage chronic illness-related identity among individuals with type 1 versus type 2 diabetes

Because diabetes is a chronic medical condition that consists of a broad superordinate group with nested subgroups of differing relative status (type 1 versus type 2), it is well-suited to an examination of identity management strategies used by individuals with chronic illness. Results indicated that individuals with type 1 diabetes reported greater identity centrality and greater preference for subgroup self-categorization to superordinate group categorization than individuals with type 2 diabetes. The relationship between diabetes type and preferred categorization level was moderated by perceived condition intractability and perceived stigmatization of the lower status subgroup, suggesting that categorization maintains a positive self-concept. Further, categorization level moderated the negative relationship between identity centrality and emotional distress, suggesting that self-categorization might protect against self-concept threat.