Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access originally published online on March 3, 2005
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2005 30(6):503-512; doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsi075
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Health Beliefs and Regimen Adherence in Minority Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes
University of Miami
All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Alan M. Delamater, Department of Pediatrics (D-820), PO Box 016820, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101. E-mail: adelamater{at}med.miami.edu.
Received December 30, 2003; revisions received May 14, 2004 and October 8, 2004; accepted October 20, 2004
Objective To examine the appraisal of short- and long-term diabetes health risk and adherence, determine whether health risk predicts adherence and glycemic control in an ethnic minority sample, and determine whether perceptions of personal risk differ from risk to others. Methods Seventy-four youths with type 1 diabetes (ages 1116) completed measures of risk perception and regimen adherence during their clinic visit; parents completed a measure of their childrens adherence. Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c level was measured as part of the clinic visit. Results Regression analyses predicting parental report and self-reported adherence from appraisal of risk yielded nonsignificant results; perceived short-term complications to self predicted glycemic control. Appraisal of risk was higher for short- and long-term complications occurring to someone else with diabetes than to self. Greater risk for short-term complications than for long-term complications to self and other was found. Conclusions The distinction between long-term and short-term complications and complications occurring to ones self or someone else with diabetes was supported. Assessment of perceived risks for short-term complications is important for this age group and should be addressed in interventions to improve adherence.
Key words: adolescence; health beliefs; risk perceptions; type 1 diabetes.