Gender differences in functional limitations in adults living with type 2 diabetes: biobehavioral and psychosocial mediators.
BACKGROUND
Differences in functional limitations between adults with and without diabetes are more evident in women than they are in men.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate if there are gender differences in biological, behavioral, and psychosocial variables, and how these gender-related variables explain the gender-functional limitations relationship in adults with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
We drew data on 1,619 adults with type 2 diabetes from the Health and Retirement Study and its diabetes-specific mail survey. The fit of a series of mediation models to the data was assessed by structural equation modeling.


RESULTS
Although women had better diet and blood glucose self-monitoring behaviors than did men, they reported less favorable body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) value, blood pressure, early complications, exercise behaviors, perceived control, self-efficacy, coping, depressive symptoms, and family support than did men. Psychosocial factors made an indirect contribution in the gender-functional limitations relationship by way of their strong association with biological and behavioral factors, two factors that directly and completely mediated the gender-functional limitations relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions promoting psychosocial well-being and empowering perceived diabetes control, coping, and self-efficacy in women with type 2 diabetes may help improve biological and behavioral determinants, and further, their long-term functional health.
Chiu
Ching-Ju
CJ
Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA. cuc197@psu.edu
Wray
Linda A
LA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers