Working with Type 1 Diabetes: Investigating the Associations between Diabetes-related Distress, Burnout, and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Objective The present study aims to investigate the association between diabetes-related distress and work outcomes (burnout & job satisfaction) among employed people with type 1 diabetesResearch design and methodsEmployed adults with type 1 diabetes (N = 297) completed an online survey. Measures assessed emotional, social, food- and treatment-related diabetes-related distress, burnout, and job satisfaction, as well as the type of insulin treatment. We conducted multiple regression analyses to test our hypotheses.ResultsEmotional diabetes-related distress was significantly and positively associated with burnout. Social diabetes-related distress was significantly and negatively associated with job satisfaction. The type of treatment (insulin pen versus insulin pump) had no significant effect on the outcomes. ConclusionsThis study sets the stage for research on the interactions between working conditions, work outcomes and illness symptoms, and problems of people with type 1 diabetes, and, generally, employees with chronic illnesses. The findings have implications for individual health and illness management, burnout prevention, and occupational health measures.