%0 Journal Article %J Ann Behav Med %D 2011 %T Gender differences in functional limitations in adults living with type 2 diabetes: biobehavioral and psychosocial mediators. %A Chiu, Ching-Ju %A Linda A. Wray %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Biomarkers %K Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring %K Body Mass Index %K Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 %K Exercise %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Psychological %K Prospective Studies %K Risk Factors %K Self Report %K Sex Characteristics %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: Differences in functional limitations between adults with and without diabetes are more evident in women than they are in men.

PURPOSE: 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.

%B Ann Behav Med %I 41 %V 41 %P 71-82 %8 2011 Feb %G eng %N 1 %L newpubs20110418_Chiu.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20827519?dopt=Abstract %4 Gender differences/Psychosocial well-being/Mediator/Structural equation modeling/Functional limitations %$ 24790 %R 10.1007/s12160-010-9226-0