Previous studies have linked self-management with social support and family function. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying these relationships. This study aimed to explore the underlying relationships between social support (family function) and self-management and to examine whether well-being mediated these relationships in elderly patients with hypertension. A cross-sectional design was used to study 517 elderly patients with hypertension. Demographics, self-management behaviors, social support, family function and well-being were collected by questionnaires. Results showed that social support, family function and well-being were separately associated with self-management behaviors. When social support, family function and well-being were included in the regression model simultaneously, social support and family function were no longer the significant predictors of self-management, demonstrating mediation. Using bootstrapping approach, 89.9% of the relationship between social support and self-management was explained by well-being, and 66.3% of the relationship between family function and self-management was explained by well-being. Improving self-management in patients with hypertension should be a comprehensive approach which should take social support, family function and well-being into account. Health providers should realize the importance of focusing on the promotion of well-being, especially among elderly hypertensive patients with low social support and low family function.
Keywords: Family function; mediation effect; self-management; social support; well-being.