Belitung nursing journal
Levels of stress and depression among patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care in Kosovo: A cross-sectional study
By Podvorica E, Zaimi E, Petrela E and 1 others.
Abstract
Background
Psychological distress, including stress and depressive symptoms, is common among people with diabetes and may negatively influence self-management and clinical outcomes in primary care settings.
Objective
To assess and compare levels of perceived stress and depression among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 297 patients with diabetes recruited using convenience sampling from eight primary care centers in Prishtina, Kosovo, between March 2025 and August 2025. Perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), while depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Demographic characteristics and selected clinical parameters, including waist circumference and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were obtained from medical records. Categorical and continuous variables were analyzed using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests, with Cramér's V measuring categorical effect size. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.