Association of social problem solving with glycemic control in a sample of urban African Americans with type 2 diabetes

J Behav Med. 2006 Feb;29(1):69-78. doi: 10.1007/s10865-005-9037-0. Epub 2006 Jan 6.

Abstract

The Social Problem-Solving Inventory--Revised, Short Form, was administered to 65 urban African Americans with type 2 diabetes to examine association of generic problem-solving styles and orientation with hemoglobin A1C (A1C). Eighty-five percent of participants had total social problem-solving scores in the Average range or higher. In linear regression models adjusted for education, each interquartile increase in impulsive/careless score was associated with a 0.82 increase in A1C (%) (p = 0.01), and each interquartile increase in avoidant score was associated with a 1.62 increase in A1C (%) (p = 0.004). After adjusting for depressive symptoms, the association of impulsive/careless style with A1C was attenuated, while the association of avoidant problem solving with A1C remained significant (p = 0.01). Associations of rational problem-solving style, positive orientation, and negative orientation with A1C and health behaviors were not statistically significant. Ineffective problem-solving styles may prove to be important targets for intervention to improve glycemic control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Baltimore
  • Black People / psychology*
  • Black or African American
  • Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / psychology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / ethnology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / psychology*
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Insulin / administration & dosage
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance / ethnology
  • Patient Compliance / psychology
  • Personality Inventory
  • Problem Solving*
  • Self Care / psychology
  • Sick Role
  • Urban Population*

Substances

  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Insulin