Associations of psychosocial stress with type 2 diabetes and glycaemic control among Ghanaians: The RODAM study

Felix P. Chilunga, Pleun S. Schwerzel, Karlijn A. C. Meeks, Erik Beune, Silver Bahendeka, Frank Mockenhaupt, Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch, Charles Agyemang

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Abstract

Background: The extent to which psychosocial stress relates to type 2 diabetes among sub-Saharan Africans is not well understood. We assessed associations of psychosocial stresses with type 2 diabetes status and glycaemic control among Ghanaians. Methods: We used data from Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study. We performed logistic and linear regression models to assess association of psychosocial stresses with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c respectively with adjustments for age, sex, education and other stresses. We also assessed moderation effects of migration status (migrant Ghanaians vs. non-migrant Ghanaians), age, sex and education by adding interaction terms in models. Results: Four thousand eight hundred and forty one Ghanaians were included with 44% resident in Ghana, 62% women, mean age of 46 years and 10% having type 2 diabetes. Psychosocial stress at home and at work were not associated with type 2 diabetes or HbA1c levels. Negative life events in past 12 months were negatively associated with type 2 diabetes (adjusted odds ratio = 0.93, 95% CI 0.87–0.99). Perceived discrimination was positively associated with type 2 diabetes (aOR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.004–1.03). Both associations were more pronounced in men. Perceived discrimination was also positively associated with HbA1c levels, especially among those with type 2 diabetes (adjusted β = 0.01, 95% CI 0.007–0.02). Conclusions: Perceived discrimination and negative life events are associated with type 2 diabetes and glycaemic control among Ghanaians, especially in men. Further studies are needed to identify context-specific mechanisms underlying these associations.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere15006
JournalDiabetic medicine
Volume40
Issue number1
Early online date2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2023

Keywords

  • glycaemic control
  • psychosocial stress
  • sub-Saharan Africans; migration
  • type 2 diabetes

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