Predicting Medication Adherence Based on Personality Characteristics in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness and adherence to medications is vital to manage the illness. The purpose of this study was to examine the prediction of medication adherence based on personality factors in a group of individuals with type 2 diabetes in Yasuj.

Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty individuals with type 2 diabetes who visited health centers were selected for this study through convenience sampling. The participants completed the NEO-Five Factor Inventory and Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). The data were analyzed by mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS software.

Results: The results showed that among the big-five personality factors, only neuroticisms significantly predicted adherence to medications (β= -0.31, P-value< 0.003). Furthermore, the model explained only 19% of the variance in medication adherence (R²= 0.19, P-value< 0.01).

Conclusion: This study indicated that a large proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes did not adhere to their medications. This study highlighted that the personality trait of neuroticism was important in predicting medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes.