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Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Perception and Risk Indicators : a 5-Year Follow-up

Authors :
Ari Haukkala
Hanna Konttinen
Markku Peltonen
Marleena Vornanen
Open University
Center for Population, Health and Society
Faculty of Social Sciences
Research group of Ari Haukkala
Social Psychology
Sociology
Department of Food and Nutrition
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies
Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ)
Source :
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Background Perceived disease risk may reflect actual risk indicators and/or motivation to change lifestyle. Yet, few longitudinal studies have assessed how perceived risk relates to risk indicators among different disease risk groups. We examined in a 5-year follow-up, whether perceived risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease predicted physical activity, body mass index (BMI kg/m2), and blood glucose level, or the reverse. We examined further whether perceived risk, self-efficacy, and outcome beliefs together predicted changes in these risk indicators. Method Participants were high diabetes risk participants (N = 432) and low/moderate-risk participants (N = 477) from the national FINRISK 2002 study who were followed up in 2007. Both study phases included questionnaires and health examinations with individual feedback letters. Data were analyzed using gender- and age-adjusted structural equation models. Results In cross-lagged autoregressive models, perceived risks were not found to predict 5-year changes in physical activity, BMI, or 2-h glucose. In contrast, higher BMI and 2-h glucose predicted 5-year increases in perceived risks (β-values 0.07–0.15, P-values β-values 0.10–0.16, P-values 0.005–0.034). Higher outcome beliefs predicted lower BMI among the low/moderate-risk sample (β-values − 0.04 to − 0.05, P-values 0.008–0.011). Conclusion Perceived risk of chronic disease rather follows risk indicators than predicts long-term lifestyle changes. To promote sustained lifestyle changes, future intervention studies need to examine the best ways to combine risk feedback with efficient behavior change techniques.

Details

Language :
English
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....830e11ca856958692b4e0ac20e6c44c4