Association between self-esteem and medication adherence in diabetic patients: A cross-sectional study in Morocco

Medication adherence is crucial in diabetes management but often suboptimal. This study aimed to evaluate the association between self-esteem and medication adherence in Moroccan diabetic patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 116 diabetic patients in an urban health center in Morocco. Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg scale and medication adherence using the adapted Morisky-Green questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the association between self-esteem and adherence, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. The mean self-esteem score was 23.78 ± 3.01 (out of 40). 85% of patients showed moderate adherence, 10% low adherence, and 5% good adherence. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between self-esteem score and medication adherence level (β = 0.249, p = 0.007), after adjusting for confounding variables. This study highlights a significant association between higher self-esteem and increased medication adherence in Moroccan diabetic patients. These results underscore the importance of considering psychological factors in diabetes management and suggest that interventions aimed at strengthening self-esteem could improve therapeutic adherence.