Effects of healthcare system distrust on cognition in African American older adults with type two diabetes mellitus

Title from PDF of title page viewed August 16, 2021Dissertation advisor: Joan McDowdVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 65-85)Thesis Ph.D.--Department of Psychology. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2021Healthcare system distrust has been linked to poorer Type two diabetes management (T2DM) management, but its impact on cognitive functioning in individuals with T2DM has not been assessed. This study aimed to analyze how healthcare system distrust might affect cognitive functioning in African American older adults. To examine the relationship between healthcare system distrust and cognition in African American older adults with T2DM, this study assessed healthcare distrust, diabetes management, psychosocial functioning, and cognitive functioning. Fifty participants aged 60-88 years were recruited from the community. Participants completed a 60-minute telephone battery. It was hypothesized that (1) individual differences in healthcare system distrust would be negatively related to diabetes management, (2) diabetes management was hypothesized to be negatively related to cognitive functioning, (3) healthcare system distrust would be negatively related to cognitive functioning, and (4) a negative relationship between healthcare system distrust and cognitive functioning would be partially mediated by T2DM management. We found that healthcare system distrust may be related to functional cognition in African American older adults with T2DM, and that diabetes management may mediate this relationship.Overview -- Review of literature -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussion -- Appendix A. Recruitment flyer -- Appendix B. Measure