en Public Health Public Health پژوهشي Original Article <div><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height:normal"><b>Background:</b> This study investigates consumer behavior in chronic disease management, specifically type 2 diabetes. Adherence to disciplined disease management is critical for individuals affected by this condition. We explore how patient attitudes and behaviors are influenced by their environment and resources, including family support, medical guidance, emotions, habits, and self-efficacy. This research aims to provide insights into promoting discipline and positive behaviors in consumers managing lifelong chronic illness.</span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><b>Methods:</b> To achieve our research objectives, we employed a Glaserian grounded theory approach and conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, as well as their family members. Theoretical sampling was used to elucidate the role of social interactions in influencing adherence.</span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><b>Results:</b> The analysis of the collected data yielded three core categories that represent the spectrum of consumer discipline: indiscipline, disrupted discipline, and absolute discipline. The section on disrupted discipline highlights how disruptions in patients&rsquo; interactions with their families and healthcare professionals impact their discipline.</span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><b>Conclusion</b><strong>:</strong> Consumer discipline involves a dynamic interplay between the individual and their immediate environment. This study examines the influence of familial and medical support as key mediating factors in shaping consumer health behavior. Drawing on cognitive and emotional capacities, habits, and self-efficacy, consumer disciplinary practices are shaped through a diverse range of personal and social resources. By recognizing the intermediary roles of family members and healthcare providers, policymakers can gain valuable insights to inform efforts aimed at enhancing self-discipline and ultimately improving public health outcomes.</span></span></span></div> Consumer discipline, Diabetes, Grounded theory, Interpersonal relations, Patient adherence, 24 32 http://jhehp.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-605-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zahra Afifirad zahraafifi63@gmail.com 100319475328460013980 0000000346990575 No Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. Gholamhossein Khorshidi g-khorshidi@sbu.ac.ir 100319475328460013981 0009000560407114 Yes Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. Tahereh Soori tara_soori@yahoo.com 100319475328460013982 0000000262874702 No Department of Infectious Diseases, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.