Improving Glycemic Control: The Role of Leisure Activities and Intrinsic Motivation in Older Type 2 Diabetic Men

Abstract

Greater frequency of involvement with sedentary leisure activities may be associated with better disease outcomes. In this study, the frequency of engagement in sedentary leisure activities served as a construct employed to reflect the possible association between motivation and adherence with diabetic regimen. Up to a point, the higher frequency of leisure behaviors correlated with improved glycemic control and triglyceride levels in older type 2 diabetic male veterans (N = 49). Moreover, as the number of comorbidities increased, the positive association between the frequency of leisure behavior and long-term glucose control grew even stronger. Possibly, individuals with more comorbidities, who nevertheless have the resources to engage in a greater number of leisure activities, are also predisposed to adhere more effectively to medical regimen as reflected in more positive biomedical markers. Especially, those with more advanced disease-related complications benefit more from leisure activities in glycemic control.

The authors would like to acknowledge Sharman M. Wilson for her editorial assistance.

Notes

1: Age; 2: no. of years diagnosed; 3: Zung total depression score; 4: physical activity frequency; 5: TAS; 6: TAS squared.

∗p ≤ .05;

∗∗p ≤ .01; SB = standardized beta.

1: No. of years diagnosed; 2: physical activity frequency; 3: comorbidity score; 4: TAS; 5: Comorbidity × TAS.

∗p ≤ .05;

∗∗p ≤ .01; SB = standardized beta.

1: No. of years diagnosed; 2: physical activity frequency; 3: comorbidity score; 4: TAS.

∗p ≤ .05;

∗∗p ≤ .01; SB = standardized beta.