Objective To construct chain mediation models to examine whether dyadic coping and benefit finding mediate the effects of diabetes distress on sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods A convenience sample of 221 patients with type 2 diabetes were surveyed by using a demographic questionnaire, the Diabetes Distress Scale, the Dyadic Coping Inventory, the Benefit Finding Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.Results The scores of diabetes distress, dyadic coping, benefit finding and sleep quality were 29.75±13.94, 116.20±21.67, 34.94±11.98, 4.00（2.00,8.00）, respectively.The effects of diabetes distress had a direct link on sleep quality, with the direct effect accounting for 52.0% of the total effect, and had three indirect paths on sleep quality:the independent mediating role of dyadic coping was 18.4%, the independent mediating role of benefit finding was 16.0%, as well as the completely chain mediating role of dyadic coping and benefit finding was 13.6%.Conclusion Dyadic coping and benefit finding are part of a causal chain between the effects of diabetes distress and sleep quality among patients with type 2 diabetes.By enhancing dyadic coping and benefit finding in patients with type 2 diabetes, the effect of diabetes distress on sleep quality can be attenuated.