Resourcefulness and health practices of diabetic women

Abstract More than one fourth of the millions of Americans with Type 2 diabetes experience depression, of which two thirds are women. Unless the individual is resourceful, coexisting diabetes and depression adversely affect one' health practices. The effects of diabetic and depressive symptoms on health practices and the mediating and moderating role of learned resourcefulness in this relationship were examined in 90 women with Type 2 diabetes. Regression analyses showed direct negative effects of diabetic and depressive symptoms on health practices. The effects of depressive, but not diabetic, symptoms were partially mediated by resourcefulness; no moderating effects were found. The results suggest the need to test interventions to minimize symptoms associated with diabetes, particularly depression. Teaching resourcefulness to Type 2 diabetic women may promote their positive health practices by minimizing their depression. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 24: 113–121, 2001