Safety net or social barrier? Social networks and barriers to monitoring type 2 diabetes management among Black/African American men.

OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) disproportionately affects Black/African American men, experiencing higher rates of complications and unique barriers to disease management. While social support is known to influence health outcomes, limited research has examined how characteristics of social networks relate to T2D management barriers in this population. This study investigated associations between social network characteristics and barriers to T2D management among Black/African American men.

METHODS

Black/African American men in the United States with T2D ( = 1225) were recruited through an online panel in 2024. Participants completed a comprehensive survey assessing social networks, barriers to T2D management using the Diabetes Care Profile, and demographic characteristics. Multiple linear regression analyses examined associations between network characteristics (interactions, social norms, composition, support, and structure) and barriers while controlling for demographic variables.

RESULTS

Significant associations emerged between social network characteristics and T2D management barriers (R = 0.172,  < .001). Diabetes-specific discussions (β = 0.224, p < .001) and presence of other individuals with T2D in one's network (β = 0.065,  = .027) were positively associated with reported barriers, while perceived network member physical activity (β = -0.143,  = .002) and having very supportive network members (β = -0.268,  < .001) were negatively associated with barriers. Network size and heterogeneity were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the complex role of social networks in T2D management among Black/African American men, emphasizing the importance of support quality over network size. Interventions should focus on enhancing existing support relationships and leveraging positive health behavior modeling within networks rather than simply expanding social connections. Future research should examine these relationships longitudinally to inform culturally appropriate interventions.