Exploring the relationships between self-criticism and perfectionism with diabetes-related distress and management in a type 1 diabetes population

Section A: People with a chronic health condition (CHC) are at a greater risk of depression, which can interact with their medical condition and decrease quality of life. Self-criticism correlates with depression and may be factor contributing to poorer outcomes for those with a CHC. This narrative literature review, based on a systematic search, explored, and critiqued 10 papers examining what is known about the relationship with self-criticism and CHCs. The review highlighted that specific antecedent or triggering event that causes the CHC which predisposes the individual to self-criticism is yet to be identified in the current literature, associated with adjustment, symptoms, coping, emotional responses, and functioning and social perceptions amongst those with a CHC. The question remains as to whether selfcriticism impacts directly on physiology or if it acts as a mediator of depressive symptoms in relation to one’s CHC.

Section B: The aim of this descriptive study was to develop a greater understanding into the levels of self-criticism in adults with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), and how this interacts with different types of perfectionism and impacts upon Diabetes-Related Distress (DRD) and diabetes self-management. The findings indicate that maladaptive perfectionism may be an important factor to consider when supporting an individual experiencing DRD and/or struggling with confidence in their diabetes self-management. The study also indicates that the hated-self form of self-criticism may be a more prominent factor in certain forms of DRD. Findings were considered alongside limitations as well as clinical and research implications, such as the need for future research to focus on systemic support experiences of the individual, family and medical systems in the treatment and care of T1D.