Cultural and Cognitive Determinants of Personal Control in Older African Americans with Diabetes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The study was funded by Pennsylvania Department of Health's Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (CURE) Program (SAP#4100051727). OBJECTIVE: To describe the determinants of personal control over diabetes complications in older African Americans (N=123) with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We administered structured instruments to assess perceptions of personal control, time orientation, religiosity, depression, and cognition in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: More years of education (p ≤ .001), better Clock Drawing (p ≤ .001), higher levels of Religiosity (p ≤ .04), and lower Present Time Orientation (p ≤ .01 ) were independent predictors of higher levels of Personal Control. DISCUSSION: Risk perceptions of control over diabetes complications vary among older African Americans according to cultural constructs, executive function, and education. This finding highlights the cultural diversity in this population and the potential impact of culturally-determined views and cognitive function on health behaviors. Cognitive screening of older persons with diabetes and interventions that incorporate perceptions of time and religion to increase rates of eye examinations are needed.