Personal and cultural influences on diabetes self-care behaviors among older Hispanics born in the U.S. and Mexico.
Older Hispanics are disproportionately affected by diabetes, but little is known about predictors of diabetes self-care among this group. This study compared the magnitude of three self-care behaviors (diet, physical activity (PA), and glucose monitoring) among older Hispanics with type 2 diabetes born in the United States (n = 59) to those born in Mexico (n = 179), and investigated the influence of personal and health indicators on each self-care behavior. Findings were based on data drawn from convenience sample data collected with a questionnaire. Self-care behaviors were moderately practiced (39.5-45.8 %) with no significant differences by nativity. Mexico-born seniors were less linguistically acculturated (P < 0.001). Being female (OR = 2.41) and PA levels (OR = 2.62) were significantly associated with diet. Being female (OR = 3.24), more educated (OR = 3.73), U.S.-born (OR = 2.84), and receiving diabetes education (OR = 3.67) were associated with PA. Diabetes education (OR = 2.41) was associated with glucose monitoring. Although acculturation influenced only PA and no other behaviors, personal and cultural factors require further investigation to design diabetes management strategies for Hispanic seniors at the border region.
Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, McAllen, TX, USA. nmier@tamhsc.edu
Nelda
N
Mier
Matthew Lee
ML
Smith
Genny
G
Carrillo-Zuniga
Xiaohui
X
Wang
Norma
N
Garza
Marcia G
MG
Ory
D000069:Acculturation; D000367:Age Factors; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors