Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BODY AWARENESS, SELF-REGULATION, SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADULTS WITH HYPERTENSION

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Nursing.
Hypertension can be prevented, modified and controlled, however, many patients have difficulty managing this condition. The science of health behavior change for patient self-management is the next frontier in managing chronic illness. However, the mechanisms by which successful self-management is achieved and potential underlying physiological mechanisms influencing self-management are still unknown. A biobehavioral process called interoceptive awareness may be influencing patients’ neurocognitive mechanisms important to engage in self-regulation and self-management behaviors. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the relationships among interoceptive awareness, decision-making, self-regulation, self-management behaviors (medication adherence, diet adherence, and exercise) and blood pressure. A convenience sample of 76 adults (predominantly African American females) diagnosed with primary hypertension undergoing medical treatment was recruited into the study. Data was collecting using interviews, phone calls, and medical record reviews after the participant’s appointment at a primary care clinic at University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH. Results showed positive associations between interoceptive awareness and selfregulation skills, self-regulation skills and medication adherence, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The two measures of interoceptive awareness (Heartbeat Perception Task and Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness questionnaire) were not associated. This finding supports the hypothesis that interoception has three dimensions that may have distinct and dissociable contributions to behavior. Moreover, only medication adherence predicted systolic blood pressure. Diet adherence, physical activity, decision-making abilities, self-regulation skills, and interoceptive awareness were not predictors of either systolic or diastolic blood pressure. None of the covariates moderated the relationships among the independent variables and dependent variables. However, the self-reported measures of interoceptive awareness, self-regulation skills, and medication adherence had negative associations with depressed mood and anxiety. The present study is one of the first to examine the relationships among neurocognitive processes, self-management behaviors, and biological health outcomes in people with a chronic disease such as hypertension. Identification of bio-behavioral factors associated with blood pressure self-management will assist in the development of successful interventions to potentially improve self-management and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this chronic illness. These findings serve as basis for future research investigating brain-behavior connections in self-management of chronic diseases.
Shirley Moore , PhD (Advisor)
Mary Dolansky, PhD (Committee Member)
Ronald Hickman, PhD (Committee Member)
Richard Josephson, MD (Committee Member)
David Fresco, PhD (Committee Member)
260 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Solano López, A. L. (2016). THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BODY AWARENESS, SELF-REGULATION, SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADULTS WITH HYPERTENSION [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1450797361

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Solano López, Ana. THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BODY AWARENESS, SELF-REGULATION, SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADULTS WITH HYPERTENSION. 2016. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1450797361.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Solano López, Ana. "THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG BODY AWARENESS, SELF-REGULATION, SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADULTS WITH HYPERTENSION." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1450797361

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)