Longitudinal association of family support, health literacy, and self-management behavior in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus: an analysis based on cross-lag model.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the interplay between family support, health literacy, and self-management behaviors in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

A cohort of 354 newly diagnosed patients with T2DM participated in this longitudinal study. Health literacy, self-management behavior, and family support were assessed using the Health Literacy Scale, Diabetes Self-Management Behavior Scale, and Family Support Scale at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-diagnosis.

RESULTS

Health literacy and self-management abilities demonstrated significant correlations at both 0-3 months (β = 0.32; β = 0.23) and 3-6 months (β = 0.37; β = 0.28). Family support was a significant predictor of health literacy during the 0-3 month period (β = 0.23), with a reduced effect size at 3-6 months (β = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Health literacy and self-management abilities in newly diagnosed patients with T2DM follow a co-evolutionary spiral model, with family support serving as a key driver in the initial phase. Clinical interventions should establish a dual-core "education-behavior" linkage system, focusing on enhancing family empowerment in the early stage (0-3 months) and transitioning to a cognitive improvement model driven by behavioral feedback in the later stages (3-6 months).