The Multigenerational Legacy of Diabetes and Illness Perception: Influence on Older Adult’s Stigma

Abstract

There is not enough information regarding the impact of stigma associated with a. diagnosis of diabetes in aging older adults. Perceptions of diabetes are passed down generationally and may be influenced by mainstream societal perceptions at the time the perception is shaped. This is known as a multigenerational legacy of diabetes for those with whom the perceptions are shaped within families when a hereditarily predisposed condition occurs. In this study, participants over the age of (n = 88) 60 years old were administered measures of illness perception with social stigma items added to the social consequences domain. Participants were also administered the recollections of diabetes experiences survey developed to measure the multigenerational legacy of diabetes. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test hypotheses. The results showed that those who anticipate the same complications, especially lower extremity amputations, and who have threatening illness perceptions, are likely to have stigma regarding diabetes (R2 = 0.092, F (2,84), <em>p</em> = 0.02). In this model, a threatening illness perception, (β = -0.20, <em>p</em> = 0.05). Findings of this study conclude that if an individual with diabetes has an anticipation of developing similar complications to that of a family member who had diabetes before them, they will be more likely to endorse perceptions of stigma. This is especially true if they have a threatening illness perception of diabetes, and if the complication was lower extremity amputation. Clinical implications include a need to anticipate stigma and provide psychoeducation during healthcare interactions.