Cultural Beliefs About Diabetes-Related Social Exclusion and Diabetes Distress Impact Self-Care Behaviors and HbA1c Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Overview

Journal Int J Behav Med

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Date 2023 May 30

PMID 37254029

Authors

Albert L Ly

Patricia M Flynn

Hector M Betancourt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disproportionally impacts Latin Americans (Latinos) in the U.S. compared to non-Latino Whites, as reflected by an increased risk for disease complications and higher mortality rates. Guided by an Integrative Model of Culture, Psychological Processes, and Health Behavior, the purpose of the present study was to examine the role of cultural beliefs and diabetes distress as determinants of self-care behaviors and HbA1c among Latino patients with T2DM.

Methods: Participants included 109 Latino patients with T2DM recruited from a diabetes treatment center located in a region of Southern California with high diabetes mortality rates. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the extent to which cultural beliefs about diabetes-related social exclusion and diabetes distress impact self-care behaviors and self-reported HbA1c.

Results: Consistent with the study hypotheses, cultural beliefs about diabetes-related social exclusion predicted diabetes distress, which in turn predicted poor diabetes self-care.

Conclusions: Findings suggest an important need for intervention efforts that address both cultural and psychological factors in order to improve diabetes self-care behaviors and associated disease outcomes among Latino patients with T2DM. Future research could benefit from investigating protective aspects of culture that could help counter the negative implications of cultural beliefs about social exclusion and diabetes distress associated with poor self-care.

Citing Articles

The Role of Community Organisation, Religion, Spirituality and Cultural Beliefs on Diabetes Social Support and Self-Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Integrative Literature Review.

Molla I, Hagger V, Rothmann M, Rasmussen B J Relig Health. 2025; .

PMID: 39853664 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-024-02233-y.

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