Reducing the Risk of Diabetes: The Role of Self-Efficacy in a Mindfulness-based Intervention
Public Deposited- Last Modified
- February 26, 2019
- Creator
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Rich, Sarah Emily
- Affiliation: School of Nursing
- Abstract
- Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels higher than normal but less than diagnostic for diabetes, is also on the rise. African Americans are disproportionately impacted by diabetes, pre-diabetes, and disease complications. Lifestyle modifications can reduce the risk or delay the onset of diabetes; however, behavior change is a complex, challenging, and stressful process. The current study examines the impact of mindfulness on self-efficacy and health behavior changes related to diabetes risk reduction. Methods: Pre-diabetic African Americans, 25-65 years of age, and experiencing significant life stress were randomized into either a conventional diabetes prevention education program (CDPEP) group or a mindfulness-based diabetes prevention education program (MPDEP) group. Each group met weekly for eight weeks and then each month for six monthly booster sessions. At weeks one and eight, participants were surveyed on their current self-efficacy, or confidence to make change, in diabetes risk reduction behaviors. We hypothesize that the mindfulness group will achieve greater self-efficacy, which is associated with improved health behaviors. Additionally, we believe baseline self-efficacy will predict post-intervention eating habits and physical activity (EHPA) outcomes. Results and Discussion: Findings do not support a significant difference in self-efficacy between groups and self-efficacy was not a statistically significant predictor of post-intervention EHPA outcomes. However, there were trends in the MDPEP group regarding self-efficacy and BMI, overeating less often, and eating fatty foods less often. Study limitations include a small sample size, especially in the control group, and attrition. Future research should aim for a larger sample size and further investigate the improvement in self-efficacy and mindfulness with regard to the following outcome variables: BMI, overeating, and eating fatty foods less often.
- Date of publication
- spring 2014
- Keyword
- DOI
- Resource type
- Rights statement
- In Copyright
- Note
- Funding: Grant ID: 1R21AT004276-01A2
- Advisor
- Giscombe, Cheryl
- Degree
- Bachelor of Science
- Honors level
- Honors
- Degree granting institution
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Extent
- 27
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