Social support buffers the impacts of Diabetes distress on health-related quality of life among type 2 diabetic patients

J Health Psychol. 2022 Sep;27(10):2305-2317. doi: 10.1177/1359105320980821. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Abstract

Diabetes patients experience significant distress. Improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is cardinal in the management of all chronic health conditions. We investigated the moderating role of social support (SS) in the relationship between diabetes distress (DD) and HRQoL. Three hundred and ninety-six type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (M age = 57.71 years) completed measures of relevant variables. Results showed that SS moderated DD-HRQoL association. Our findings provided a guide on extent of support for T2DM management behaviors that may be helpful in ameliorating impacts of stress on patients' health.

Keywords: diabetes; distress; health-related quality of life; moderation; social support.

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life*
  • Social Support