Introduction and purpose: In patients with type 2 diabetes, psychological factors such as self-compassion and self-efficacy can improve quality of life by reducing psychological stress and increasing health behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between positive and negative components of self-compassion and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: The present study was a descriptive-correlational study using structural equation modeling. 250 patients with type 2 diabetes were purposively selected from Imam Sajjad (AS) Hospital in Tabriz in 2024. The instruments included the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (1998), Self-Compassion by Wang et al. (2022), and Self-Efficacy Related to Diabetes Management by Evaggelia Fappa (2016) were collected and analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis using SPSS and AMOS software.
Results: The results showed that the direct paths of traits to self-efficacy (β = 0.39), self-efficacy to quality of life (β = 0.62), positive quality of self-compassion to quality of life (β = 0.17), and traits to self-quality of life (β = -0.19) were significant (β = 0.24). The fit indices were at a desirable level (CFI = 0.97, NLI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.06).
Conclusion: Strengthening the positive components of self-compassion and self-efficacy beliefs can be an effective strategy for improving the quality of life of type 2 diabetes patients. Designing educational interventions based on self-compassion is recommended alongside psychological treatments.