Association of depressive symptomology and psychological trauma with diabetes control among older American Indian women: Does social support matter?

Indigenous data governance approaches applied in research using routinely collected health data: a scoping review

Globally, there is a growing acknowledgment of Indigenous Peoples' rights to control data related to their communities. This is seen in the development of Indigenous Data Governance standards. As health data collection increases, it's crucial to apply these standards in research involving Indigenous communities. Our study, therefore, aims to systematically review research using routinely collected health data of Indigenous Peoples, understanding the Indigenous Data Governance approaches and the associated advantages and challenges. We searched electronic databases for studies from 2013 to 2022, resulting in 85 selected articles. Of these, 65 (77%) involved Indigenous Peoples in the research, and 60 (71%) were authored by Indigenous individuals or organisations. While most studies (93%) provided ethical approval details, only 18 (21%) described Indigenous guiding principles, 35 (41%) reported on data sovereignty, and 28 (33%) addressed consent. This highlights the increasing focus on Indigenous Data Governance in utilising health data. Leveraging existing data sources in line with Indigenous data governance principles is vital for better understanding Indigenous health outcomes.

Changes in family involvement occasioned by FAMS mobile health intervention mediate changes in glycemic control over 12 months

Mobile phone-delivered interventions have proven effective in improving glycemic control (HbA1c) in the short term among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Family systems theory suggests engaging family/friend in adults' diabetes self-care may enhance or sustain improvements. In secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial (N = 506), we examined intervention effects on HbA1c via change in diabetes-specific helpful and harmful family/friend involvement. We compared a text messaging intervention that did not target family/friend involvement (REACH), REACH plus family-focused intervention components targeting helpful and harmful family/friend involvement (REACH + FAMS), and a control condition. Over 6 months, both intervention groups experienced improvement in HbA1c relative to control, but at 12 months neither did. However, REACH + FAMS showed an indirect effect on HbA1c via change in helpful family/friend involvement at both 6 and 12 months while REACH effects were not mediated by family/friend involvement. Consistent with family systems theory, improvements in HbA1c mediated by improved family/friend involvement were sustained.

Spiritual connectedness through prayer as a mediator of the relationship between Indigenous language use and positive mental health

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to understand how Indigenous language and spirituality revitalization efforts may affect mental health within Indigenous communities. Although Indigenous communities experience disproportionate rates of mental health problems, research supporting language and spirituality's role in improving mental health is under-researched and poorly understood.

METHOD

Data for this study are from a Community-based Participatory Research Project involving five Anishinaabe tribes in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Participants were sampled from clinic records of adults with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, living on or near the reservation, and self-identifying as American Indian (mean age = 46.3; n = 191).

RESULT

Structural equation modeling illustrates that language use in the home is associated with positive mental health through spiritual connectedness.

CONCLUSION

Results support tribal community expressions of the positive effects of cultural involvement for Indigenous wellbeing, and improve what is known about the interconnectedness of language and spirituality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Stress and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk for Indigenous Populations throughout the Lifespan

BACKGROUND

Indigenous people experience the greatest cardiometabolic disease disparity in the Unites States, yet high cardiometabolic disease risk factors do not fully explain the extent of the cardiometabolic disease disparity for Indigenous people. Stress, trauma, and racism occur at high rates within Indigenous communities and have not been well explored as significant contributors to cardiometabolic disease disparities despite emerging literature, and therefore will be described here.

METHODS

This descriptive study explores the relationship between cardiometabolic disease risks and Indigenous-specific stressors (e.g., early childhood stress and trauma, adulthood stress and trauma, and historical and intergenerational trauma) using current literature. Indigenous-specific protective factors against cardiometabolic disease are also reviewed.

RESULTS

Increasing research indicates that there is a relationship between Indigenous-specific stressful and traumatic life experiences and increased cardiometabolic disease risk. Mental health and psychophysiology play an important role in this relationship. Effective interventions to reduce cardiometabolic disease risk in Indigenous communities focus on ameliorating the negative effects of these stressors through the use of culturally specific health behaviors and activities.

CONCLUSIONS

There is increasing evidence that cultural connection and enculturation are protective factors for cardiometabolic disease, and may be galvanized through Indigenous-led training, research, and policy change.

Type 2 diabetes management among older American Indians: beliefs, attitudes, and practices

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine beliefs, attitudes, and practices of older American Indians regarding their type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management. T2DM is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among American Indians. American Indians are more than twice as likely to have T2DM and have over three times a T2DM mortality rate as Whites. Design: Study participants were older members of a federally recognized tribe who had T2DM. A low-inference qualitative descriptive design was used. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews with a mixed inductive, deductive, and reflexive analytic team process. Results: Our study sample included 28 participants with a mean age of 73.0 ± 6.4 years of whom 16 (57%) were women. Participants' mean self-confidence score of successful T2DM management was 8.0 ± 1.7 on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 representing the greatest amount of confidence. Participants' mean HbA1c was 7.3% ± 1.5%. Overall, participants discussed T2DM management within five themes: 1) sociocultural factors, 2) causes and consequences, 3) cognitive and affective assessment, 4) diet and exercise, and 5) medical management. Conclusions: It is important to be aware of the beliefs and attitudes of patients. Lay understandings can help identify factors underlying health and illness behaviors including motivations to maintain healthy behaviors or to change unhealthy behaviors. Such information can be helpful for health educators and health promotion program staff to ensure their efforts are effective and in alignment with patients' realities.

Culture, Social Support, and Diabetes Empowerment Among American Indian Adults Living With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE | Type 2 diabetes represents a major health disparity for many American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) communities, in which prevalence rates are more than double that of the general U.S. population. Diabetes is a major indicator for other comorbidities, including the leading cause of death for AIANs (i.e., cardiovascular disease). This study investigated associations between protective factors (social support and cultural factors) and self-reported empowerment to manage illness. DESIGN AND METHODS | Participants were drawn from a random sample of tribal clinic records. Data included results from computer-assisted personal interviews with 192 American Indian adults with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes living on or near a reservation. Community Research Councils, developed at each of the five partnering Anishinaabe reservations, oversaw protocols and procedures in this community-based participatory research collaboration. RESULTS | Multiple ordinary least squares regression models determined that general social support and diabetes-specific social support are positively related to diabetes empowerment. These associations persisted when both social support measures were added to the model, indicating independent effects of different types of social support. Cultural identity and cultural practices were positively related to diabetes empowerment in bivariate analyses; however, both measures dropped from statistical significance after accounting for all other covariates. An interaction term revealed a moderation effect through which cultural identity amplified the positive relationship between social support and diabetes empowerment. CONCLUSION | Results moderately support policy and risk-reduction efforts aiming at expanding social support networks into multiple domains and reinforcing cultural identity and cultural practices.

Sources of Stress Among Midwest American Indian Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Despite alarming health disparities among American Indians (AIs) and acknowledgement that stressors negatively influence health, conceptualization of the full spectrum of stressors that impact Indigenous communities is underdeveloped. To address this gap, we analyze focus group transcripts of AI adults with type 2 diabetes from five tribal communities and classify stressors using an inductive/deductive analytical approach. A Continuum of American Indian Stressor Model was constructed from categorization of nineteen stressor categories within four domains. We further identified poverty, genocide, and colonization as fundamental causes of contemporary stress and health outcomes for AIs and conclude that stressors are generally experienced as chronic, regardless of the duration of the stressor. This work on AI-specific stressors informs future health research on the stress burden in AI communities and identifies target points for intervention and health promotion.

Putting Self-Management in the Context of Community-Dwelling American Indians Living With Type 2 Diabetes

PURPOSE

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) defined diabetes self-care behaviors (healthy eating, being active, taking medication, monitoring, problem solving, reducing risk, and healthy coping) in the context of older community-dwelling American Indians (AIs).

METHODS

Secondary theme analysis of transcribed semistructured qualitative interview data from 28 participants in the Native Elder Care Study aged >60 years identified factors that influence the DSMES self-care behaviors in the context of community-dwelling AIs.

RESULTS

Four themes that characterized barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for DSMES to support self-care behaviors included community food security, care partners in self-care, community opportunities for diabetes support, and blending of both health worlds.

CONCLUSION

Tribal communities have contemporary strengths and cultural traditions that can be activated to enhance diabetes self-management education and support. Diabetes educators can work in tandem with community health representatives to strengthen the social and community support within which individual AIs with type 2 diabetes mellitus live. Community-based participatory research with AI caregivers, dyads, families, youth, and Indian Health Service clinicians may help to improve tribal food policy and school health initiatives, as well as develop intergenerational interventions for modeling effective diabetes self-management.

Dietary Beliefs and Management of Older American Indians With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVES

This qualitative study examined dietary-related beliefs and self-management among older American Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

DESIGN

Semistructured in-person interviews were conducted and digitally recorded.

SETTING

Southeastern American Indian tribal community.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 28 noninstitutionalized older tribal members aged >60 years.

PHENOMENON OF INTEREST

Study participants' beliefs and experiences with dietary practices and management related to T2DM.

ANALYSIS

Transcribed qualitative interviews were coded using an inductive content analysis approach.

RESULTS

Four themes regarding T2DM dietary beliefs and T2DM dietary management emerged from the analyses: diet changes, portion control, health care professional and family influence, and barriers to healthy eating. Study participants described how their beliefs, practices, and experiences in these 4 areas related to T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

American Indian older adults face a variety of challenges to dietary management of T2DM. Future research efforts can focus on assessing how social support can be leveraged to facilitate healthy diets for American Indians with T2DM. Clinicians and diabetes educators and Native communities have an instrumental role in identifying culturally appropriate messages and programs to help persons effectively manage T2DM.

Trajectories of social support in adults with type 2 diabetes: Associations with depressive symptoms and functional disability

OBJECTIVES

Little is known about temporal trajectories of social support in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and how they are associated with diabetes-related outcomes. This study identified and explored different trajectories of social support in a community sample of adults with T2D, as well as the extent to which different trajectories were prospectively associated with depressive symptoms and functional disability.

METHODS

Data came from five annual waves of the Evaluation of Diabetes Treatment study (N = 1077). Social support, depressive symptoms, and functional disability were assessed via self-report. Separate analyses were conducted to examine the associations between social support trajectories, depressive symptoms, and functional disability, adjusting for demographic characteristics, diabetes-related covariates, and baseline depressive symptoms and functional disability.

RESULTS

Latent class growth modeling identified four distinct social support trajectories. Trajectory Groups 1 and 2 comprised participants with persistently low and persistently moderate-low social support, respectively. Trajectory Groups 3 and 4 included participants with persistently moderate-high and persistently high social support, respectively. People with persistently low social support reported higher functional disability relative to those with persistently moderate-high and persistently high social support.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the present study indicate that temporal patterns of social support are a predictor of future functional disability among adults with T2D.

Caregiving Stress Among American Indians With Type 2 Diabetes: The Importance of Awareness of Connectedness and Family Support

American Indian (AI) communities experience a disproportionate rate of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cumulative exposure to stress. Although this link is well researched among various populations, it has not been examined among AI communities. Path analysis was used to examine a multiple-mediator model to explain how caregiver stress influences self-reported mental and physical health among 100 AI participants with T2D. Caregiver stress was negatively associated with physical and mental health. Physical health was positively associated with family/community connectedness and mental health was positively associated with both family support and connectedness. The relationship between caregiver stress and mental health was partially mediated by family/community connectedness; caregiver stress had no indirect effects on physical health via either hypothesized mediator. Findings demonstrate the importance of integrating individuals' connection to family and community and its influence on caregiver stress and mental health in intervention programs targeting diabetes management and care among AI communities.