Research Article: Association between latent profiles of disease risk perception and health-promoting behaviors among adult offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study
Abstract:
To identify latent profiles of disease risk perception among adult offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and examine their associations with health-promoting behaviors.
A quantitative, analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling. Data were collected from August 2025 to January 2026 from adult offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who accompanied their parents to the outpatient or inpatient departments of Endocrinology and Metabolism at a tertiary Grade A hospital in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China. Participants completed a general information questionnaire, the Tripartite Model of Risk Perception (TRIRISK), and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II Revised (HPLP-II R). Latent profile analysis was performed to identify distinct profiles of disease risk perception. Independent-samples t tests or one-way analysis of variance were used for univariate comparisons, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between disease risk perception profiles and health-promoting behaviors.
A total of 301 offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus completed the survey. Their disease risk perception was classified into three latent profiles: the low risk perception profile, the affective-low risk perception profile, and the affective-elevated risk perception profile. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that monthly per capita household income and disease risk perception profiles were significantly associated with health-promoting behaviors among offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( p <?0.05).
Disease risk perception among adult offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is heterogeneous, and different risk-perception profiles are independently associated with health-promoting behaviors. Healthcare professionals can prioritize assessing the disease risk perception profile of the offspring, so as to provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for formulating prevention strategies targeting disease risk perception to improve health behaviors among offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Introduction:
The global diabetes map released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) shows that in 2024, China had the largest number of diabetes patients aged 20–79 (148 million), and it is projected that this number will increase to 168.3 million by 2050 ( 1 ). Type 2 diabetes constitutes approximately 90% of diabetes cases in China ( 2 ), and presents a notable risk of intergenerational inheritance ( 3 ). Evidence suggests that offspring have a 15% risk of developing type 2 diabetes with one affected parent ( 4 ),…
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