Identifying gender differences in psychosocial factors associated with glycemic control will help to develop gender specific interventions to achieve optimal glycemic control for people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aimed to examine the differences between males and females in terms of diabetes self-efficacy, perceived role demands, attitudinal familism, diabetes distress, and family support among a group of Chinese adults with T2DM. A convenience sample of 210 patients with T2DM (male=99, female=111) was recruited from a community health center in Beijing, China. Study instruments included Self-efficacy Scale for Patients with T2DM, Perceived Role Demands Scale, Attitudinal Familism Scale, Diabetes Distress Scale, and Diabetes Family Behavior Checklist-II. The statistical methods included descriptive analysis, t- test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Females had higher attitudinal familism scores (t=-2.12, p<0.05), higher number of roles (Z= -2.33, p<0.01), and more perceived role demands related to caregiving (Z= -4.44, p<0.001) than males. Conversely, males had a significantly higher family supportive behaviors mean score (Z=2.76, p<0.01), and more perceived role demands related to jobs (Z=4.18, p<0.001) than females. There were no statistically significant gender differences in terms of diabetes distress (t=-1.04, p=0.05) and self-efficacy (t=-0.08, p>0.05). These findings indicated that females struggled more with caregiving responsibilities, were more likely to put family interest above their own health needs, yet received less family support than males. Clinicians should take these gender differences into account when designing interventions that address diabetes self-management and glycemic control.
K. Lin: None. L.T. Quinn: None.
