Semester
Summer
Date of Graduation
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Julie Hicks Patrick
Abstract
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing with middle-aged and older adults being those at highest risk for developing this disease. Additionally, the demands of type 2 diabetes self-management can become difficult with age, which can result in poorer glycemic control. The current study examined the relations of health literacy, diabetes-related distress, and diabetes self-efficacy on diabetes self-management among 65 adults aged 40-66 with type 2 diabetes. Age was found to be positively associated with health literacy, but negatively associated with diabetes self-care activities. Additionally, only diabetes self-efficacy was found to be a unique contributor to diabetes self-care activities when controlling for age and gender. Lastly, body mass index was found to be negatively associated with diabetes self-efficacy and diabetes self-care activities. Future studies should consider using a longitudinal design to better inform interventions for those at risk for inadequate glycemic control (i.e., overweight/obese individuals, older adults, those with low self-efficacy).
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Tomorrow D., "Health Literacy and Self-efficacy as correlates of Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes in Middle-Aged and Older Adults" (2012). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 4938.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/4938