Cross-lagged Analysis of Chronic Disease Self-efficacy and Benefit Finding in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

doi:10.12104/j.issn.1674-4748.2025.17.015

Abstract：Objective: To explore the temporal changes and mutual influences between chronic disease self-efficacy and benefit finding in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) using a cross-lagged analysis. Methods: A total of 199 T2DM patients admitted to the hospital from February 2022 to July 2024 were selected as the study subjects. The Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale and the Benefit Finding Scale were used to survey the patients at the end of the first month (T1), fourth month (T2), and seventh month (T3) after discharge. A cross-lagged analysis model was constructed using Amos. Results: The scores for chronic disease self-efficacy at T1, T2, and T3 were (29.72±5.89), (34.89±6.08), and (34.76±5.37) points, respectively; the scores for benefit finding at T1, T2, and T3 were (45.50±7.29), (51.17±8.74), and (54.97±7.66) points, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the scores of each variable across different time points (all P < 0.05). Chronic disease self-efficacy at T1 significantly predicted benefit finding at T2, and benefit finding at T1 significantly predicted chronic disease self-efficacy at T2, with path coefficients of 0.207 and 0.177 (both P < 0.05); chronic disease self-efficacy at T2 significantly predicted benefit finding at T3, and benefit finding at T2 significantly predicted chronic disease self-efficacy at T3, with path coefficients of 0.264 and 0.118 (both P < 0.05). Conclusion: Chronic disease self-efficacy and benefit finding in T2DM patients showed a significant bidirectional predictive relationship across different time points. It is recommended that improving chronic disease self-efficacy and benefit finding be considered as complementary intervention strategies.