Social-ecological resources as mediators of two-year diet and physical activity outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients.
OBJECTIVE
In behavioral research directed at the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the challenge is to understand how interventions might facilitate long-term lifestyle changes. The Mediterranean Lifestyle Program (MLP) is an intervention for postmenopausal women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes that has shown promising effects on outcomes that include increased physical activity and reduced fat consumption. The present study extended previous findings by evaluating diet-specific and activity-specific social-ecological resources as possible mediators of intervention effects over a 2-year period.


METHODS
Percent calories from saturated fat and caloric expenditure per week in all physical activities were assessed with self-report questionnaires.


RESULTS
The MLP was successful in increasing participants' use of diet-specific and activity-specific family/friend and neighborhood resources. There was some evidence that changes in those resources mediated intervention effects on saturated fat consumption and physical activity outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
The experimental manipulation of mediators and the demonstrated mediational effects provided some support for the conclusion that social-ecological resources can contribute to improvements in healthful lifestyles for women with type 2 diabetes.
Barrera
Manuel
M
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1104, USA. Manuel.Barrera@asu.edu
Strycker
Lisa A
LA
Mackinnon
David P
DP
Toobert
Deborah J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009043:Motor Activity; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires