The Role of Social Support in Diabetes Self-Management Activities Among African-Americans.

Understanding the association between social support and diabetes self-management activities in low income African-Americans provides knowledge for increasing culturally competent care. Diabetes mellitus poses a huge socioeconomic burden on the African-American population.  Diabetes self-management is a complex process that requires the ability to manage symptoms, treatment, and physical and psychosocial changes in lifestyle. Norbeck's Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSA) were used to examine the relationships between types and strengths of social support and selected diabetes self-care activities (e.g., diet, exercise, daily blood sugar testing, foot care, medications) in a random sample of 85 adult African-Americans with diabetes. Results of this study show inconsistent associations between social support and diabetes self-management activities. Significant positive correlations were found between participants washing their feet and emotional support, instrumental support, and functional support, r = .255, .253, .257 (ps < 0.05). However, the self-care activity of foot care was negatively associated with emotional social support, r = -.220, p (two-tailed) = .043 and total functional support, r = .214, p (two-tailed) = 0.05.