Self-care behaviours and related psychosocial factors in men and women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Jordan: a cross sectional study

Background: Effective management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) depends on a number of specific elements of self-care. Theoretical and empirical evidence identify the important role of psychosocial factors in predicting self-care behaviours. Understanding of gender differences in these relationships is needed to guide appropriate management. However, evidence is limited, particularly in Middle Eastern populations.
Aim: To examine the relationship between self-efficacy, social support, diabetes distress factors and self-care behaviours in men and women Jordanian Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients.
Methods: 239 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients from two family medicine clinics in Amman, Jordan were recruited. The study participants completed a self-reported questionnaire with measures of diabetes related self-efficacy, diabetes distress, diabetes social support and diabetes self-care. Statistical analyses used correlational and multiple regression methods.
Results: Women were found to have significantly reported higher diabetes distress than men (p< 0.0001) and reported significant less support received by family and friends (p=0.006). Regarding self-care behaviours, men did more exercise than women, (p=0.032). Women had better foot care than men (p<0.0001).
Self-efficacy was a strong predictor for self-care behaviours for both men and women. The modelled psychosocial variables explained more of the variance for men than for women for all the examined self-care behaviours.
Models showed that gender was not a moderator of the relationship between psychosocial and self-care behaviours.
Conclusion: There are significant gender differences in psychosocial and self-care behaviours among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Jordanian patients. Self-efficacy was the best predictor of self-care behaviour for both men and women. Clinicians need to be aware of the significant gender differences in both psychosocial factors and self-care behaviours. Interventions to improve self-care for both men and women should involve strengthening psychosocial factors, particularly self-efficacy.