Glycosylated Haemoglobin and Quality of Life: A Moderated-Mediation Model for Emotional Intelligence and Affect

Previous research has shown that higher glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels are related to poorer quality of life. The objective was to analyse the moderating role of emotional intelligence (EI) in the relationship between HbA1c levels and quality of life through both positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) in individuals with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). A total of 72 participants with T1D (mean age = 41.10, SD = 10.73) were assessed on HbA1c. Psychological constructs were measured through the following questionnaires: MSCEIT (EI), PANAS (affect), and EsDQOL (quality of life). Higher levels of HbA1c and NA were related to a worse quality of life. In contrast, higher PA was related to a better quality of life. In addition, higher EI was associated with lower NA and worries about diabetes. In individuals with low EI scores, EI had a positive moderating effect on the relationship between HbA1c and NA. The moderated mediation analysis revealed a significant positive indirect effect of HbA1c on quality of life through NA moderated by EI for these individuals with low EI scores. This study shows how higher HbA1c levels have a negative impact on the quality of life of individuals with T1D and low EI levels by increasing their NA.