Does Length of Time Living With Illness Predict Illness Identity?: Predicting Self-as-Doer Identity in Persons with Type II Diabetes

Background: Having an identity as the “doer” of one's self-care behaviors (SCBs; i.e.,Self-as-Doer identity) has been associated with increased SCBs among individuals with diabetes (Author,2008;2010). However, factors influencing the development of a self-as-doer identity in persons with Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have not been adequately examined. Previous research suggests that the length of time one has had a chronic illness may affect the degree to which one identifies with it (Baumgartner, 2007). Therefore we predict that regardless of age at diagnosis, marital status, education, ethnicity and gender, the length of time that one has had T2DM will be associated with a stronger self-as-doer identity. Methods: 187 adults with T2DM completed self-report psychosocial and behavioral measures. A multiple linear regression in which age at diagnosis, martial status, education, ethnicity, gender and length of time with diabetes were simultaneously entered was computed to determine if time since diagnosis would independently predict self-as-doer identity. Results: Time since diagnosis was not a significant predictor of self-as-doer identity. However, age at diagnosis significantly predicted self-as-doer identity (B=.01, t(102)=2.56,p=.01). Discussion: Contrary to our hypothesis, findings suggest that age at diagnosis and not time living with diabetes is related to a SCB doer identity in persons with T2DM. A diagnosis later in life is associated with a stronger degree of self-as-doer identity. Given previous research demonstrating an association between self-as-doer identity and increased SCBs, results may allow clinicians and health care professionals to tailor intervention strategies based on age at diagnosis to improve diabetes self-as-doer identity.