The signs of stress: embodiments of biosocial stress among type 2 diabetic women in New Delhi, India

Social Science & Medicine
Lesley Jo WeaverS V Madhu

Abstract

Biocultural models of health and illness are increasingly used to trace how social pathways shape biological outcomes. Yet, data on the interactions between social and biological aspects of health are lacking in low- and middle-income regions, where two-thirds of all type 2 diabetes cases occur. This study explored health, social roles, and biological correlates among a group of 280 type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic women (n = 184 diabetic) in New Delhi, India, between 2009 and 2011. Using a biocultural framework, we developed and tested a series of hypotheses about the relationships that might exist between diabetes, psychological distress, social role fulfillment, and biological markers measuring blood sugar control, generalized inflammation, and immune stress. Although blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels indicated that women's diabetes was generally poorly controlled, they lacked the elevated inflammation, immune stress, and mental ill health that often accompany uncontrolled blood sugar. Qualitative work on explanatory models of diabetes and gendered models of appropriate behavior demonstrated that despite living with poorly controlled diabetes, women maintain participation in culturally valued roles involving the c...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 18, 2015·American Journal of Public Health·Lesley Jo Weaver, S V Madhu
Jun 22, 2016·Anthropology & Medicine·Emily MendenhallDorairaj Prabhakaran
Oct 20, 2015·Social Science & Medicine·Emily MendenhallVictoria Mutiso
Feb 6, 2017·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Alexandra A BrewisCindi L SturtzSreetharan
May 14, 2020·The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing·Chiu-Ling HuangRuey-Hsia Wang
Aug 14, 2020·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Alexandra BrewisPardis Mahdavi
Sep 4, 2020·Transcultural Psychiatry·Saloni Atal, Juliet Foster
May 15, 2021·Canadian Journal of Pain = Revue Canadienne De La Douleur·Nida MustafaJudy Watt-Watson

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