Distress and Coping Strategy among Indonesian Men with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can have a notable impact on the psychological and physical well-being of individuals, which, in turn, affects the management of the condition. Both men and women experience stress and adopt distinct coping strategies. However, research focusing specifically on T2DM in men is still limited. Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the distress and coping strategies adopted by outpatient men with T2DM in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.Methods: This study employed a qualitative research design and conducted in-depth interviews with 24 outpatient men with T2DM. The interview guidelines were formulated using the Bahasa Indonesia version of the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS17) questionnaire, which includes four domains: physician distress, emotional burden, regimen distress, and interpersonal distress. Thematic analysis was performed to analyze the results gathered during the research and compile them into a final report. Results: The study revealed that individuals diagnosed with T2DM experienced a range of emotional and practical difficulties, including feelings of fear, anxiety, and a lack of understanding. Disease burden, a lack of understanding of healthcare services, difficulties managing their diet, routine medication, financial concerns, and fatigue also contributed to the distress. To cope with distress, the informants identified eight distinct coping strategies. Among these, the most effective was receiving support from family members. Additionally, acceptance of the condition, self-management, a positive attitude, understanding of the illness, participation in the diabetes community, spiritual solace, and gaining further knowledge of T2DM were also identified. Conclusion: The findings of this research indicate that men experience eight distinct types of stress and utilize comparable coping strategies associated with T2DM. Emotional distress represents the predominant pressure, while family support constitutes the primary coping strategy. These results are important for nurses and other healthcare professionals in supporting patients.