# Diabetes as a predictor of COVID-19 preventive behaviors

## TL;DR

This study found that people with diabetes were more likely to intend to stay home during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic due to their perception of the disease's severity.

## Contribution

The study identifies behavioral pathways linking diabetes status to preventive behaviors during the pandemic using theoretical models.

## Key findings

- Diabetes status directly predicted intention to stay home during the pandemic.
- Perceived severity of COVID-19 indirectly linked diabetes status to staying home intentions.
- Diabetes status did not influence mask-wearing or vaccination intentions.

## Abstract

We explored if diabetes status predicted differences in behavioral pathways associated with staying home at the beginning of the coronavirus-19 infectious disease (COVID-19), wearing a mask, and vaccinating in a convenience sample of US adults over a 12-month period of the COVID-19 pandemic (from May 2020 through June 2021).

We included participants who completed web-based surveys in May–June, 2020 (baseline), and at the 6-, 9-, 11- and 12- months follow-ups (n = 966). We collected information on demographic characteristics (baseline) and surveys with Likert-scale type questions to assess Health Beliefs Model and Theory of Planned Behavior constructs related to staying home (6-month), wearing masks in public spaces (9-month), and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (11- and 12- month). Structural equation modeling was conducted to assess behavioral pathways and direct and indirect associations with diabetes.

Constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Health Beliefs Model explained intention to stay home, to wear a mask, to vaccinate, and COVID-19 vaccination status. Diabetes status predicted intention to stay home directly (β = 0.21, p < 0.05) and indirectly through perceived severity (β = 0.11, p < 0.01). Overall, diabetes status was not associated with intention to wear a mask or vaccination.

Findings from this study highlight relevant pathways that can be leveraged to promote preventive behaviors in people with diabetes.