The Myth of the Diabetic Personality

A critical review of the methodologic problems in the literature leads to the conclusion that sampling bias invalidates the generalization of specific findings from these studies to the diabetic population as a whole.

Abstract

Since Daniel's comprehensive literature review in 1935, there have been 7 major review articles and 28 empirical studies of the personality characteristics of the diabetic patient. The results have been contradictory and inconclusive. A critical review of the methodologic problems in the literature leads to the conclusion that sampling bias invalidates the generalization of specific findings from these studies to the diabetic population as a whole. The clinical heterogeneity of diabetes is matched by the psychological heterogeneity of its sufferers.