Adherence to physical activity guidelines associated with self-care management and self-regulatory efficacy for type 2 diabetes among Black/African American men

Background: Existing literature primarily focuses on predominantly Caucasian populations, creating a gap in understanding the factors influencing physical activity (PA) adherence and self-care behaviors specifically in Black/African American men with Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a group disproportionately affected by the condition. This study aimed to examine the relationship between adherence to PA guidelines, self-care management and self-regulatory efficacy for T2D among Black/African American men. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 1225 Black/African American men with T2D were analyzed, with adherence to PA guidelines defined as 450 Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)-minutes/week or more. Self-care management and self-regulatory efficacy were measured using validated questionnaires. Results: Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses and logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationships between PA adherence, self-care management and self-regulatory efficacy. The average of participants’ age was 41.9 years old (±14.5), and number of chronic conditions was 2.5 (±1.9). Participants who adhered to PA guidelines demonstrated significantly higher self-care management and self-regulatory efficacy compared to non-adherents. Younger participants (aged 21–40) reported an average of 4.33 days per week of self-care management, while middle-aged and older participants (aged 40 and above) reported 4.42 days. Non-adherents across all age groups reported lower self-care management and self-regulatory efficacy scores. Logistic regression analysis revealed that self-regulatory efficacy, age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and employment status were significant predictors of PA adherence. Higher self-regulatory efficacy is associated with improved confidence in managing T2D, making individuals more likely to engage in regular PA, which is essential for effective diabetes management. Conclusions: Targeted interventions to enhance self-regulatory efficacy and promote PA adherence, particularly tailored to address barriers faced by younger and unemployed individuals, could have substantial benefits for diabetes self-management.