Social support and self-management capabilities in diabetes patients: An international observational study
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore which aspects of social networks are related to self-management capabilities and if these networks have the potential to reduce the adverse health effects of deprivation. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study we recruited type 2 diabetes patients in six European countries. Data on self-management capabilities was gathered through written questionnaires and data on social networks characteristics and social support through subsequent personal/telephone interviews. We used regression modelling to assess the effect of social support and education on self-management capabilities. RESULTS: In total 1692 respondents completed the questionnaire and the interview. Extensive informational networks, emotional networks, and attendance of community organisations were linked to better self-management capabilities. The association of self-management capabilities with informational support was especially strong in the low education group, whereas the association with emotional support was stronger in the high education group. CONCLUSION: Some of the social network characteristics showed a positive relation to self-management capabilities. The effect of informational support was strongest in low education populations and may therefore provide a possibility to reduce the adverse impact of low education on self-management capabilities. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Self-management support interventions that take informational support in patients' networks into account may be most effective, especially in deprived populations.
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Enhancing clients' role management (activities and social interaction domains) and strategies to find, access, or manage formal and informal supports and resources (resources domain) are part of managing and living with chronic conditions.
“Enhancing clients’ role management (ie, activities and social interaction domains) and strategies to find, access, or manage formal and informal supports and resources (ie, resources domain) are also part of managing and living with chronic conditions [76-78].”
From Features of Structured, One-to-One Videoconference Interventions That Actively Engage People in the Management of Their Chronic Conditions: Scoping Review (2025) · cites this paper as [77]
The Introduction describes social networks helping patients identify and connect with people, groups, organisations and online resources for information and support. The Practice implications section also links participation in community organisations to self-management. The paper does not describe role management in activities and social interaction domains as part of managing chronic conditions; page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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- Authors
- Koetsenruijter, J., van Eikelenboom, N., van Lieshout, J., Vassilev, I., Lionis, C., Todorova, E., Portillo, M. C., Foss, C., Serrano Gil, M., Roukova, P., Angelaki, A., Mujika, A., Knutsen, I. R., Rogers, A., & Wensing, M.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- University of Southampton (GB)
- University of Crete (GR)
- University of National and World Economy (BG)
- University of Oslo (NO)
- Universidad de Navarra (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Koetsenruijter, Jan
- ORCID
- Venue
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-04
- Volume
- 99
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 638-643
- ISSN
- 0738-3991 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2183499563
- Cited by
- 135
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 6.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Patient Education and Counseling (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- European Union Seventh Framework Programme FP7 (279081)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Keywords
- type 2 diabetes, social support, social networks, information support, emotional support, educational attainment, socioeconomic deprivation, community organizations
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Europe, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Regression Analysis, Rural Population, Self Care, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, Urban Population
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