title: Fatalism, Diabetes Management Outcomes, and the Role of Religiosity.
abstract: This study aimed to determine whether fatalistic beliefs were associated with elevated levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and to establish the role of religiosity in this relationship. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 183 Jewish adults with diabetes visiting a large medical center in northern Israel. Self-administered questionnaires assessed level of religiosity, fatalistic beliefs, diabetes management behaviors, and demographic/personal characteristics; laboratory tests were used to measure HbA1c. Multivariate regression indicated that fatalism was significantly associated with HbA1c (β = 0.51, p = 0.01). The association was no longer statistically significant after including self-reported religiosity in the model (β = 0.31, p = 0.13). This phenomenon is likely due to a confounding relationship between the religious/spiritual coping component of the fatalism index and self-reported religiosity (r = 0.69). The results indicate that addressing fatalistic attitudes may be a viable strategy for improving diabetes management, but call for a better understanding of the interplay between religiosity and fatalism in this context.
authors.affiliation: Computational Sciences Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182-1245, USA. vberardi@cbeachsdsu.org.|Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA. vberardi@cbeachsdsu.org.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellettiere
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Orit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nativ
authors.affiliation: Clalit Healthcare Services, The Diabetes Clinic, Lin Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Slezak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ladislav
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Melbourne F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hovell
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baron-Epel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin
keywords: Diabetes; Fatalism; HbA1c; Religiosity