Objecive: To assess the relationships between age, gender, degree of American Indian blood, and social support among a Cherokee Indian population. Methods: The Cherokee Diabetes Study evaluated risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes among members of the Cherokee Nation aged 5 to 40 years, living in a five county area in northeastern Oklahoma. The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) was administered to participants 15-40 years to measure three components of social support: appraisal, tangible, and belonging. T-tests were used to compare mean ISEL scores by age, gender, and degree of American Indian blood. Results: Women and men in the study with less than 25% Indian blood scored higher on the appraisal and tangible scales than did those with 100% Indian blood. Women with low Indian blood scored higher on the belonging scale, but there was no significant difference in scores in men. Females in each of the age groups scored significantly higher on the appraisal scale than did males. There was no significant difference based on gender and age for the belonging scale. Females in the youngest age group scored higher than males on the tangible scale. Conclusion: Differences in social support related to age, gender, and degree of American Indian blood should be considered when implementing health education programs.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe three components of social support. 2. Discuss differences in social support related to age, gender, and degree of American Indian blood
Keywords: American Indians,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.