How dyadic appraisal moderate the association between dyadic coping and diabetes management efficacy.

To explore the moderating role of dyadic appraisal in the association between dyadic coping and diabetes management efficacy. Two hundred seventy six middle-aged and older couple pairs with one spouse who had diabetes were recruited from 14 community healthcare centers across Guangzhou. The moderating role of dyadic appraisal was investigated using the actor-partner interdependence moderation model. When both couples considered diabetes to be a shared condition, statistically-significant associations were found between patients' negative (ß = -22.7, p = 0.008) and neutral behaviors (ß = 13.6, p = 0.017), plus spouses' positive behaviors (ß = 22.8, p = 0.009) on their own diabetes management efficacy, respectively (i.e. actor effects); as well as between spouses' positive (ß = 16.8, p = 0.028), negative (ß = -28.5, p < 0.001), and neutral behaviors (ß = 16.9, p = 0.006) on patient's diabetes management efficacy (i.e. partner effects). Dyadic appraisal moderates the association between dyadic coping and diabetes management efficacy.

Gender-Specific Effect of Couple-Based Intervention on Behavioral and Psychological Outcomes of Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes during the COVID-19 Partial Lockdown in Guangzhou, China.

This study aimed to evaluate the gender-specific effect of a couple-based intervention on the management behaviors and mental well-being of community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 partial lockdown in Guangzhou. Out of 207 participants involved in a prior randomized controlled trial (Trial no. ChiCTR1900027137), 156 (75%) completed the COVID-19 survey. Gendered differences in management behaviors and depressive symptoms between the couple-based intervention group and the patient-only control group were compared by distance to the high-risk areas cross-sectionally and longitudinally using random intercept models. Cross-sectionally, female patients of the intervention group had more positive behavior change scores (ß = 1.53, p = 0.002) and fewer depressive symptoms (ß = −1.34, p = 0.02) than the control group. Over time, female patients lived closer to the high-risk areas (<5 km) and showed decreasing depressive symptoms (ß = −4.48, p = 0.008) in the intervention group vs. the control group. No statistically significant between-group difference was found for males. Females tended to benefit more from the coupled-based intervention than males did, particularly among these closer to the high-risk areas. Chronic disease management can be better sustained with active spousal engagement.