Diabetes Projects

Family Center Support Project

CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) has begun a 5-year behavioral research project that will identify and examine nontraditional psychosocial factors regarding diabetes education and the family. These factors include community characteristics, health care reimbursement, family processes, diabetes education, provider-patient characteristics, acculturation or westernization, as well as psychological factors. Previously unrecognized factors include racism, living arrangements, perceptions of safety, and intergenerational coping skills, and their overall impact on psychological well being. Most studies in diabetes education examine a patient's knowledge levels and perceptions about diabetes, and they ask a few questions about family support, perceptions of mental well being, and others. Such an approach ignores human behavior and minimizes the importance of evidence that uses a much broader definition of environmental factors.

Cumulative exposure to both traditional and nontraditional environmental factors might impede both individual and family readiness to adopt and support diabetes management recommendations. This study will (1) establish the need for nontraditional methods and approaches to better understand community-level dynamics that influence psychological well being among families; (2) determine the most effective way to identify these environmental factors; and (3) provide a rationale to develop family-centered interventions targeting these environmental factors to help people support family members living with diabetes.

For more information, call toll-free 1-800-CDC-INFO
1-888-232-6348 TTY or E-mail cdcinfo@cdc.gov .

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United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation