Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119587

Julie Lager, MS, Department of Health&Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, 4243 TAMU, 158P Read Building, College Station, TX 77843-4243, 979-862-8574, jlager@hlkn.tamu.edu and Ranjita Misra, PhD, CHES, Health&Kinesiology Department, Texas A&M University, 4243 TAMU, 158P Read Building, College Station, TX 77843-4243.

Evidence indicates religion affects chronic illness coping outcomes yet few studies have examined the impact of religion on diabetes outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among religious coping, acceptance of diabetes, social support, diabetes management, and quality of life among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Religious coping, acceptance of diabetes, and social support were hypothesized to encourage self management behaviors thus enhancing quality of life. Measures used were the Religious Problem Solving Scale-short form (alpha = .93), Ideas About Diabetes-Revised (subscale alphas: outlook = .71, confidence = .60, inhibitors = .72), the PRQ2000 (alpha = .94), the Religious Support Scale (alpha = .95), and the Diabetes Quality of Life Scale (alpha = .92). Preliminary results from 58 participants indicate significant positive bivariate correlations (p<.05) among religious coping, acceptance, religious support, general support, and self management behaviors, i.e. high levels of religious coping contributed to positive outlook; more religious and general social support; and greater adherence to the management regimen. Individuals not relying on God (self directive religious coping) experienced less religious support and adhered less to the diabetes regimen. Quality of life was significantly positively associated with older age, more positive outlook and confidence, and greater general social support and adherence to the diabetes regimen. Regression analysis with quality of life as the dependent variable indicated age, outlook, inhibitors, and general support were significant predictors of quality of life.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine the frequency and type of religious coping used by individuals with diabetes
• Describe the relationship between religious coping, acceptance of diabetes, social support, diabetes management, and quality of life among individuals with Type 2 diabetes
• Discuss opportunities for future research involving religious coping and individuals with diabetes.

Keywords: Diabetes, Quality of Life

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.