A gender-centered ecological framework targeting Black men living with diabetes: integrating a "masculinity" perspective in diabetes management and education research.
Blacks have traditionally experienced a disproportionate burden of diabetes in the United States. Research published from 1980 to 2008 revealed a paucity of diabetes education and management research targeting Black men. There is a paucity of published research that takes into consideration attributes of "being male," such as masculinity, and how its attributes influence diabetes self-management behaviors. This article discusses three important factors that may help explain diabetes-related disparities among Black men.These factors include absence of consistent sources of health care, lack of health insurance, and the absence of a masculinity perspective in diabetes education and management research. This article offers a gender-centered ecological framework that examines pathways between demographic factors, family functioning, knowledge and psychological health, biological health, behavioral health and medical compliance, masculinity, and diabetes-related outcomes. Recommendations for future research that consider how aspects of masculinity might lead to the identification of gender-based risk factors are presented.
Jack
Leonard
L
Behavioral and Community Health Sciences Program, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA. ljack@lsuhsc.edu
Toston
Tyra
T
Jack
Nkenge H
NH
Sims
Mario
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology*; D019468:Disease Management; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States