A Resilience Intervention for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Proof-of-Concept in Community Health Centers

Background Given the psychological stress associated with managing type 2 diabetes (T2D), resilience-promoting interventions may particularly benefit populations experiencing high levels of stress (e.g., racial/ethnic minority and lower-income individuals). Federally qualified Community Health Centers (CHCs) primarily serve these patients and are therefore ideal settings for resilience-promoting T2D programs. This proof-of-concept study tested the Resilience-Based Diabetes Self-Management Education (RB-DSME) intervention within a CHC. Method Thirty-five patients with T2D (Mage = 51 years, 71% female, 60% Hispanic, 69% annual household income < $20,000) at two clinics within the CHC completed the RB-DSME, consisting of eight bi-weekly classes and two monthly support groups. In this treatment-only design, resilience resources, self-management behaviors, and physical and mental health outcomes were measured at baseline and 6 months. Results Attendance (M = 7.66/10) and program satisfaction (M = 6.79/7) were high. Participants improved adaption to stress (d = .67), adaptive coping (d = .60), diabetes empowerment (d = .57), and finding positive meaning (d = .85). Large increases in self-management behaviors (d = 1.38) and number of steps (d = 1.11) were also observed. Participants lowered A1C from baseline (M = 8.79%) to 6 months (M = 8.11%;d = .50), along with diabetes distress (d = 1.31), depressive symptoms (d = .80), and general perceived stress (d = .55). Conclusion This study demonstrated the ability of the RB-DSME to improve resilience resources, self-management behaviors, and health outcomes among racial/ethnic minority and lower-income patients with T2D at clinics within a CHC. A larger, randomized trial should more rigorously test the RB-DSME in this clinical setting.