title: Racial differences in psychosocial variables among adults with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: To determine whether racial differences exist in psychosocial variables among patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), the authors administered a series of questionnaires to 211 Black and White patients of the Wake Forest Family Medicine ambulatory care unit and the Reynolds Health Center, a community health center. In general, Blacks in the study population had higher levels of external locus of control, higher levels of stress, and lower levels of family functioning compared with Whites. These differences may account partially for the disparity of diabetes control and the consequences of diabetes among Blacks. Health professionals may benefit from understanding and addressing these psychosocial variables and may be more successful in implementing intervention programs in this population by tailoring programs to the psychosocial orientation of their population.
authors.affiliation: Section on Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Bowman Gray Medical School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Summerson
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Konen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin