Factors Influencing Eating Behaviors among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Sidoarjo Sub-district, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Objectives: To describe and examine predictive factors toward eating behaviors among type 2 diabetes patients. Methods:A simple random sampling was conducted to recruit 117 diabetes patients from Sidoarjo sub-district. Data were collected from January to February, 2015. Descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression were used for data analysis. Results:Type 2 diabetes patients’ eating behaviors, monthly income of family, self-efficacy, psychological stress, and family support were in moderate levels (means with standard deviations of 75.44 10.58, 1,746,846.15 521,828.66, 60.88 6.30, 42.59 5.77, and 55.38 13.83, respectively), while educational level and knowledge were in high level (12.43 2.45 and 12.08 2.29, respectively), and healthcare worker communication was in sufficient level (33.42 5.34). Self-efficacy (β= 0.36, P< .001), family support (β= 0.31, P< .001), monthly income of family (β = 0.24, P< 0.001), and psychological stress (β= -0.18, P< 0.01) were significant predictors ofeating behaviors and accounted for 66.5% in the variance of eating behaviors (R² = 0.665, F(4,112) = 55.63, P< 0.001). Educational level, knowledge, and healthcare worker communication were not significant predictors of eating behaviors. Conclusion:Self-efficacy, family support, family monthly income, and psychological stress predicted eating behaviors. Program aiming at increasing self-efficacy, motivating family support, decreasing psychological stress and also providing information related to food consumption behavior in everyday life to suit the income of the family should be developed. Keywords: Eating behaviors, self-efficacy, family support, psychological stress, type 2 diabetes patients