Association between self-compassion, meaning in life, resilience, health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management among people living with type 2 diabetes in Nigeria

Self-compassion is an important psychological resource that improves health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management; however, the psychological processes underlying these associations remain unclear. This study examined the roles of meaning in life and resilience in the relationship between self-compassion and both health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management. Participants were 301 individuals living with type 2 diabetes (176 (58.5%) females, M age = 49.69, SD = 12.36) conveniently selected from two tertiary healthcare institutions in Nigeria. They completed self-report measures of self-compassion, meaning in life, resilience, health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management. Multiple regression analyses indicated that self-compassion positively predicted health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management. Meaning in life and resilience independently and positively predicted health-related quality of life and diabetes self-management. Mediation analysis showed that meaning in life mediated the association between self-compassion and health-related quality of life, as well as diabetes self-management. Likewise, resilience mediated the connection between self-compassion and health-related quality of life, and diabetes self-management behaviour. Intervention for diabetes self-management should focus on promoting self-compassion, meaning in life and resilience abilities of patients, as they can potentially improve health and self-care behaviours needed for recovery.