Walker, Jo Ellyn Olivia Yvonne (2016-11). Examining Psychological and Physical Health Indicators of Individuals Diagnosed with Diabetes. Doctoral Dissertation.
Thesis
The purpose of this study was to describe a sample of rural residing individuals diagnosed with diabetes as well as to examine the psychological and physical health indicators associated with their diabetes diagnosis. In addition, the potential moderating role of social statuses on the relationships between diabetes and mental and physical health indicators was investigated. Health indicators examined were: individuals' self-reported or subjective health, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and body mass index (BMI). Data were drawn from a larger health assessment project spanning nine counties in rural central Texas. Descriptive statistics of the sample demonstrate that diabetics tended to be older, poorer, more overweight, and experiencing more depression and anxiety symptoms. A logistic regression model was conducted to examine whether depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and BMI predict diabetic status. Results indicate poor predictive power of the logistic regression model tested. However, marital and caregiver statuses appear to be protective factors in the relationships between diabetes and depression, anxiety symptom endorsement. Results also indicate that Black diabetics have higher BMI scores while females have lower BMI scores.
