Gender differences in psychosocial characteristics and diabetes self-management among inner-city African Americans

Abstract

Aims: To characterize differences in psychosocial variables between inner-city African American men and women with type 2 diabetes, and to test if the relationships between psychosocial variables and diabetes self-management behaviours differ by gender.

Design: Secondary analysis.

Methods: We used baseline data from participants enrolled in the Prevention through Lifestyle Intervention and Numeracy 4 Success-Diabetes study (N = 37). Differences in psychosocial variables between genders were compared using chi-square tests. A two-way analysis of variance was then used to compare self-management scores by different psychosocial characteristics and gender.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in psychosocial characteristics between genders. High diabetes knowledge and self-efficacy were associated with better self-management behaviours in African American women but not in men. In contrast, high numeracy was associated with better diabetes self-management only in men. Low depression, high health literacy, and high social support were associated with better self-management practices in both genders.

Keywords: African Americans; diabetes; diabetes self-management; gender-specific differences; psychosocial characteristics.