Social Support, Self-Efficacy, and Psychological Wellbeing of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Social support improves self-efficacy, which in turns enhances self-management that lead to better psychological outcomes of persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support and psychological outcomes of adults with T2D. A cross-sectional design was used to recruit a sample of 339 participants from a diabetes clinic. The participants responded to a series of questionnaires on demographics, social support dimensions, and self-management; self-efficacy; and psychological outcomes. The function and quality of social support were positively associated with self-efficacy. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with both self-management and psychological outcomes. In addition, self-efficacy demonstrated successful mediation role in the relationship between social support and psychological outcomes of T2D, however, self-management failed to mediate this relationship. The quality and functionality of social support are distinctive variables that should be recognized to promote social support interventions to reduce or prevent T2D-related psychological outcomes.