Research Project Involvement Request - An Online Compassion Intervention for Adults with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes who Experience Diabetes Distress, Shame and Self-Criticism

The aim of this study is to provide an online compassion intervention to adults with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, who experience diabetes distress, self-criticism, and shame in relation to their diagnosis. We know that having a long-term condition can have an impact on wellbeing and quality of life, therefore we would like to understand how to provide support for this experience.

Experiences of shame are common in people with and without health conditions. This may contribute to thoughts that others view you as having characteristics that are unattractive or rejectable, or experiences of feeling inadequate or flawed. This can contribute towards self-criticism, which is characterised by negative evaluations of yourself. Diabetes distress is an emotional response to both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus which can impact emotional wellbeing and glycaemic control (HbA1c).

Compassion is when we have an awareness of ours and others’ suffering, alongside an intention to alleviate this. Research shows that people with greater compassion towards themselves have reduced shame and self-criticism and better wellbeing, quality of life and physical health. This project will be providing an intervention that is based on Compassionate Mind Training over four-weeks. The intervention intends to share information and strategies to reduce diabetes distress, self-criticism, and shame, and improve physical health.

This project is being completed as part of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Training programme at Canterbury Christchurch University.

 

View the research poster image here (1.66 MB) . 

Find out more on the Diabetes UK website.