Gender-Specific Factors Influencing Diabetes Self-Care Behaviors and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in South Korea

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to identify gender-specific factors infl uencing diabetes self-care behaviors and health-related quality of life among older adults with type 2 diabetes in South Korea. This is a secondary analysis using data from 278 older adults (77 women, 201 men) with type 2 diabetes. An independent t test and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. No significant mean diff erences in diabetes self-care behaviors and health-related quality of life were observed according to gender. Regarding predictors by gender, the number of diabetes-related complications was a unique predictor of diabetes self-care behaviors in older men, whereas duration of diabetes and barriers were unique predictors in older women. Depression was a signifi cant common predictor of health-related quality of life in older men and women. Nurses should be aware of and consider gender specifi city when developing intervention programs for promoting self-care behaviors and health-related quality of life.