Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Bernice Kennedy

Abstract

There has been a steady increase in the incidence of diabetes in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in the daily hassles of African American adults with a self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes compared to those of African American adults without a self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The theoretical underpinning for this quantitative, descriptive study was the cognitive appraisal theory (CAT), but the concept of stress and the effects stress has on the body was the broad framework that connected all the variables. The CAT was used to develop the central research question designed to investigate if there was a difference in the hassles total, frequency, and severity between the 2 research groups. There were 54 persons without type 2 diabetes (59.3%) and 37 with type 2 diabetes (40.7%). The hassles portion of the Combined Hassles and Uplifts Scale was used for data collection and interpretation. A t test for independent means was used to determine the differences in hassles between the 2 groups. Data analysis indicated that those with a self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes reported more total hassles (p .005), frequency of hassles (p .003), and severity of hassles (p .006) than those without a self-reported diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The study will contribute to positive social change by facilitating creation of opportunities by healthcare providers, to develop client-specific, culturally-sensitive programs and best practice interventions that underscore daily hassles that affect the lived experiences of persons with type 2 diabetes. Legislators on all levels may also use the findings of this study to inform health policy decisions that affect people with type 2 diabetes in their daily experiences.

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