title: Psychosocial and functional outcomes in African Americans with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: The overall goal of this study was to examine factors in African Americans that account for the variance in diabetes self-care, a proxy measure for functional status. A descriptive correlational design was used to study a sample of 133 adult African Americans with diabetes. The protocol included measures of psychosocial adjustment, self-efficacy, and functional status. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, stepwise multiple regression and T-tests. The analysis revealed positive attitudes and adjustment to having diabetes, a high level of self-confidence, and low functional status. Women compared to men scored higher on "negative attitude," and had greater problems with components comprising psychosocial adjustment to their diabetes and its related care. A description of socio-demographic data enhanced data collection. Level of formal education, which consistently correlated with various components of functional status was concluded to be the most significant variable associated with a good functional status outcome for African Americans with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (CPNAH), Division of Nursing, Howard University, Annex 1 Office 204, 501 Bryant Street NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA. mmontague@howard.edu
authors.forename: Mamie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Montague
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome