Testing indirect effect of external locus-of-hope on life satisfaction through serial mediation of internal locus-of-hope and need satisfaction in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Hope is accepted as a psychological strength, yet research on its relation to well-being in terms of external locus-of-hope dimensions remains limited. For individuals living with diabetes, hope and life satisfaction play a crucial role in achieving health-related goals. In goal attainment, hope focuses on the cognitive process about how people pursue their goals, while need satisfaction emphasizes the motivations behind goal pursuit. Integrating these perspectives, the current study examined the relation between external locus-of-hope and life satisfaction in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, considering the mediating roles of internal hope and psychological need satisfaction. We collected data from 106 participants with type 2 diabetes. Serial mediation analysis indicated that family locus-of-hope predicted life satisfaction through internal locus-of-hope and need satisfaction. These findings highlight the crucial role of family locus-of-hope in fostering hopeful thinking. Psychosocial interventions focusing on strengthening family involvement and internal hope may improve well-being in diabetes management.