RECENT LIFE EVENTS, GENDER DIFFERENCES, AND THE CONTROL OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS - A 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

In an earlier study of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellit us (IDDM), males who reported predominantly negative life events over the previous year and had a poorer social support situation showed poo rer HbA1C values than those who reported fewer or no negative life eve nts. For the females it was found that the greater the number of life events reported, especially positive ones, the greater the change for the better was HbA1C over the event year studied. The present study ai med at following up, during the next event year period, various gender -specific patterns obtained in the previous study. For the males, nega tive life events and HbA1C values were found to be positively related this second went year as well. In addition, more negative life events were reported by those males who, in the previous study, were defined as high-negative eventers. In contrast, for the females, no significan t correlations were obtained between life events and HbA1C values for the second went year. The results are discussed in terms of possible d ifferences in psychosocial environment and coping strategies between m ales and females.