General Fatalism and Diabetes Fatalism as Predictors of Diabetes Treatment Adherence

<p>Greater conceptual distinction between fatalism as a cultural value orientation (general fatalism) and disease-specific fatalism is necessary to evaluate fatalism as a predictor of health behaviors such as diabetes treatment adherence. We tested an integrated, theory-driven structural model of relationships among income, education, age, gender, general fatalism, diabetes fatalism, and type 2 diabetes treatment adherence, as measured by hemoglobin a1c levels (hba1c), in a sample of mainstream-Chileans (n=229) and indigenous people of Chile known as the Mapuche (n=134). Hypotheses were that higher income and education would predict more general fatalism and diabetes fatalism across ethnic groups and higher general fatalism would indirectly predict higher hba1c through diabetes fatalism. Multi-group structural equation modeling comparing ethnic groups revealed excellent fit of models (Mapuche: CFI = .995, χ2 (24, n = 229) = 27.26, p =.29, χ2/df = 1.14, RMSEA = .024, 90% CI (.000, .061), R2= 0.148; mainstream-Chilean: CFI = 1.000, χ2 (24, n = 134) = 22.15, p =.57, χ2/df = .92, RMSEA = .000, 90% CI (.000, .064), R2=0.043) and partial supported of study hypotheses. Fewer years of education significantly predicted general fatalism and lower income significantly predicted diabetes fatalism across ethnic groups. Higher general fatalism was a significant indirect predictor of hba1c through diabetes fatalism only for mainstream-Chileans. This study highlights the importance of measuring fatalism as a cultural value and disease-specific fatalism as antecedents of health behavior. Findings also underscore the necessity of studying how social structural factors influence health behavior through culture and disease-specific beliefs.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2016

Author dc:creator

• Nuñez, Esmeralda Ibette

Contributors dc:contributor

• Betancourt, Hector M.
• Flynn, Patricia M.
• Morrell, Holly E. R.

• Clinical Psychology
• Psychology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus; Health Behavior; Fate and fatalism - Psychological aspects; Cultural awareness - Chile; Educational Status;
• fatalism; Treatment adherence; Cultural Value Orientation; Disease-specific fatalism

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/433

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1435