Diana Brown

Abstract

Investigating health care disparities in ethnic minority populations is an increasingly urgent issue as these disparities lead to higher morbidity and mortality in minorities (National Center of Health Statistics, 2000). There is clear evidence that Latino Americans, the fastest growing minority group in the United States, are more likely to be diagnosed with and experience more severe complications from type 2 diabetes than Anglo Americans. This study surveyed 38 White and 33 Latino diabetes patients from outpatient clinics in an academic medical center. Cultural values (individualism and collectivism), mental health (social support, mental health), and self-efficacy (diabetes and exercise) were used to predict HbA1c, BMI, and Blood Pressure control. It was hypothesized that cultural values would be moderated by well-being and self-efficacy during diabetic treatment. Specifically, better health outcomes are expected with lower levels of depression, higher family support for diabetes, and more confidence about diabetes self management tasks. HbA1c was most strongly predicted by self-efficacy and mental health constructs; however, cultural values did not play a large role in the models. Ethnicity and exercise self-efficacy interactions indicated that Latino’s lower exercise self-efficacy had a more adverse impact on HbA1c and Blood Pressure control than in Whites. Moreover, White’s lower diabetic self-efficacy had a more adverse impact on HbA1c and Blood Pressure control than in Latinos. Latinos reported significantly higher collaborative religious coping and higher family support for diabetes than Whites; however, Latinos family support did not predict improved health outcomes. To motivate lifestyle change for better diabetes outcomes, healthcare providers should address emotional well-being and self-efficacy specifically related to diabetes self management for Whites and exercise self-efficacy for Latinos. Healthcare providers should address their patient’s efficacy in diabetes management across both affective and social cognitive domains to advance necessary lifestyle changes in diabetic patients.

LLU Discipline

General Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

Kelly R. Morton

Second Advisor

Kendal C. Boyd

Third Advisor

David V. Chavez

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Level

M.A.

Year Degree Awarded

2009

Date (Title Page)

3-2009

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Diabetes -- Treatment; Self-management (Psychology) Behavior modification; Diabetes Mellitus -- therapy; Health Behavior; Hispanic Americans; European Continental Ancestry Group; Attitude to Health; Risk Factors; Life Style; Self Efficacy; Social Perception; Cross-Cultural Studies; Forecasting -- trends -- United States; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xii; 100

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS