Socioeconomic status and psychological well-being predict cross-time change in glycosylated hemoglobin in older women without diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether socioeconomic status and psychological well-being (eudaimonic and hedonic aspects) predicted nondiabetic levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) over time, after adjusting for covariates and baseline level of HbA1c.


METHODS
These questions were investigated with a longitudinal sample (n = 97; age = 61-91 years) of older women without diabetes. Socioeconomic status, well-being, and health behaviors were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Fasting blood samples for assays of HbA1c were obtained before 7 AM during the respondents' overnight stay at the General Clinical Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All measurements were obtained at baseline and 2-year follow-up.


RESULTS
Regression analyses showed that higher income and positive affect predicted lower levels of HbA1c, after controlling for baseline HbA1c and health factors. Additionally, three well-being measures (purpose in life, personal growth, and positive affect) moderated the relationship between income and HbA1c.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that psychological well-being and socioeconomic status interact in important ways in influencing nondiabetic glucose metabolism.
Tsenkova
Vera K
VK
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, W. J. Brogden Hall, 1202 W. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706-1696, USA. tsenkova@wisc.edu
Love
Gayle Dienberg
GD
Singer
Burton H
BH
Ryff
Carol D
CD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin