To study the transactional analysis in well-controlled and poorly controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An observational, cross-sectional, pilot study

Aim and Objective:To evaluate the role of transactional analysis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) control using a validated transactional analysis questionnaire and assess the effect of personality type on diabetes management. Materials and Method:This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital on T2DM patients (18–60 years) with a disease duration of over one year. Patients were classified as well-controlled or poorly controlled based on HbA1c levels (last three months) or recent medication changes (last month). A validated 36-item transactional analysis questionnaire identified personality types: Nurturing Parent, Critical Parent, Adult, Free Child, and Adopted Child. Results and Discussion:Among 52 participants (24 males, 28 females, mean age 54 years), 25 were in the well-controlled and 27 in the poorly controlled group. The Nurturing Parent personality type was observed in 22 participants, 14 of whom had well-controlled diabetes. The reliability of the Nurturing Parent scale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.654) supported its consistency. Conversely, 9 participants exhibited an Adopted Child personality, with 7 belonging to the poorly controlled group. Conclusion:Nurturing Parent personality was associated with better diabetes control, while Adopted Child personality correlated with poor control. A concise eight-item questionnaire may help predict diabetes management outcomes in future assessments.