“If I've got to walk up that hill, I don't struggle…, I go harder”: A qualitative study exploring perceptions of the role of personality in weight management among adults with type 2 diabetes

Le résumé fourni par la source

Abstract Background Personality is a well-established associate of health behaviors in chronic health conditions but has not been explored qualitatively in diabetes. This study aimed to explore how adults with type 2 diabetes understand the role their personality plays in their weight management. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone with N = 22 Australian adults with type 2 diabetes (50% women; age: 62 ± 9 years). Participants were purposively sampled, following completion of an online cross-sectional survey examining personality and weight management (n = 270), to achieve gender balance and diversity in physical activity and dietary practices. Open-ended questions elicited barriers to, and enablers of, weight management, with a final direct question: “how have your personal qualities or traits affected the way you manage your weight?”. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic template analysis was conducted, with a deductive (using the HEXACO and Big Five personality frameworks) and inductive (where data did not fit either framework) approach. Results All participants described personal characteristics and strategies that they perceived as barriers/enablers to weight management, which were largely coded deductively. Traits most commonly identified as facilitating weight management were openness and conscientiousness, while emotionality (neuroticism) was mostly a barrier, and extraversion and agreeableness were identified as both barriers and enablers. While not represented in either applied framework, ‘disordered eating behaviors’ was identified as a barrier to healthful behaviors. Upon explicit questioning, 55% of participants directly linked their personality to their weight management. Conclusions Findings suggest adults with type 2 diabetes may have limited understanding or self-awareness regarding the role of personality in their weight management that warrants further investigation.

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