Last update:
13-Jan-2026

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between sense of coherence, resilience, proactive coping, medication adherence, and quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 191 patients with T1D who completed self-reported questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered both online and in-person at two general hospitals in Athens. A questionnaire covering demographic and clinical data, the Sense of Coherence 13-item Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the proactive coping subscale of the Proactive Coping Inventory, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and the Diabetes Quality of Life-Brief Clinical Inventory were included among the instruments used.

RESULTS Statistically significant positive correlations were found between quality of life and sense of coherence, resilience, proactive coping, and medication adherence. Compared to patients with non-controlled glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) (>7%), participants with well-controlled HbA1C (≤7%) presented higher levels of quality of life, sense of coherence, resilience, and medication adherence. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and level of education were negatively related to quality of life, while medication adherence, sense of coherence, and resilience were positively related to quality of life (R2=0.498). Mediation analysis showed that proactive coping indirectly affected the quality of life of patients with T1D through sense of coherence and resilience.

CONCLUSIONS In order to improve the quality of life for patients with T1D, the current study emphasizes the significance of improving resilience, sense of coherence, proactive coping, and medication adherence through multidisciplinary collaboration and focused psychological interventions.

Key words: Medication adherence, Quality of life, Resilience, Sense of coherence, Type 1 diabetes.