The role of social support on the relationship of depressive symptoms to medication adherence and self-care activities in adults with type 2 diabetes.

AIM

To examine the mediating role of social support on the relationship of depressive symptoms to medication adherence and self-care activities in Korean adults.

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence suggests that higher levels of social support are associated with improved medication adherence and self-care activities; however, the role of social support on the relationship of depressive symptoms to medication adherence and self-care activities is less well understood.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

The data were collected from 311 Korean adults with type 2 diabetes who were taking hypoglycaemic agents in the period 2012-2013. Depressive symptoms, social support, medication adherence and self-care activities were assessed using structured questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis with adjustment for covariates and the Sobel test were used to examine the mediating effect of social support on the relationship of depressive symptoms to medication adherence and self-care activities.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences by subgroups with and without depressive symptoms in social support, medication adherence and self-care activities of diet, physical activity and stress management. The Sobel test confirmed that social support mediated the effect of depressive symptoms on medication adherence and self-care activities of diet, physical activity and stress management.

CONCLUSION

The evidence from this study suggests that social support-enhancing interventions that also manage depressive symptoms may be more timely and effective than interventions that target depressive symptoms alone in promoting adherence to medication adherence and self-care activities in this population.