Diabetes-Specific Emotional Distress among African Americans and Hispanics with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

This study examines baseline levels and correlates of diabetes-related emotional distress among inner-city African Americans and Hispanics with type 2 diabetes. The Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale, which measures diabetes-related emotional distress, was administered to 180 African American and Hispanic adults participating in the REACH Detroit Partnership. We examined bivariate and multivariate associations between emotional distress and biological, psychosocial, and quality of health care variables for African Americans and Hispanics. Scores were significantly higher among Hispanics than African Americans. Demographic factors were stronger predictors of emotional distress for Hispanics than for African Americans. Daily hassles, physician support, and perceived seriousness and understanding of diabetes were significant for African Americans. Understanding the personal, family and community context of living with diabetes and conducting interventions that provide support and coping strategies for self-management have important implications for reducing health disparities among disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups.

Self-Care Disparities Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in the USA

“…[32–37] Furthermore, racial/ethnic minorities with T2D disproportionately experience competing family responsibilities and priorities,[38] financial strain,[38; 39] and daily and chronic stressors. [40–42]…”

Stress, depression and medication nonadherence in diabetes: test of the exacerbating and buffering effects of family support

“…Stressors and depressive symptoms are related (Fisher et al, 2001; Naranjo et al, 2011) but independent (Osborn et al, 2014) predictors of medication nonadherence (Billimek & Sorkin, 2012a, 2012b; DiMatteo et al, 2000; Gonzalez et al, 2007; Ngo-Metzger et al, 2012; Osborn et al, 2014) which disproportionately affect minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients (Fisher et al, 2001; Jeon et al, 2009; Jiang et al, 2008; Mendenhall et al, 2012; Spencer et al, 2006). However, not all patients who experience these overlapping vulnerabilities are suboptimally adherent.…”

Analysis of some predictive factors of quality of life among type 2 diabetic patients

“…[24] Emotional distress associated with the disease can be diverse from tragic problems to ongoing self-care needs caused by diabetes, such as continuous glucose monitoring, medication, insulin injections, control of food intake, and regular physical activities. [25] Researchers indicate that distress can dramatically affect the health consequences associated with diabetes including quality of life in diabetic patients. [26] An extensive study was conducted in 13 countries about diabetes distress, the results showed that psychological problems such as diabetes distress is very common in diabetic patients and dramatically affects the life with diabetes.…”