Health Behavior Changes after a Diabetes Diagnosis: The Moderating Role of Social Support

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between a diagnosis of diabetes and health behavior changes among middle-aged and older adults, and whether self-efficacy and social support moderate the relationship. The study sample was selected from the 2006 to 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 13,143). A diagnosis of diabetes was ascertained by self-reported physician-diagnosed condition. Self-efficacy was measured using a 5-item scale. Social support from family and friends was measured separately by a same 3-item scale. Three health behaviors were assessed, including drinking, smoking, and physical activity. Mixed-effects regression models were conducted to test the study aims. Findings showed that participants reduced drinking after a diagnosis of diabetes. A significant interaction between social support from family and a diabetes diagnosis was found in predicting drinking reduction and smoking cessation. These findings suggest that a diagnosis of diabetes may trigger individuals’ motivation to initiate health-promoting behaviors. Mobilizing social support from family may help individuals adopt health-promoting behaviors and manage diabetes after a diagnosis.

Keywords:

• Diabetes
• health behavior
• older adults
• self-efficacy
• social support

Acknowledgements

This study was developed based on the author’s doctoral dissertation. The author would like to thank her dissertation committee (Ann Nguyen, PhD; David Miller, PhD; David Hussey, PhD; Siran Koroukian, PhD; and Adam Perzynski, PhD) for their guidance on her dissertation. This study was presented in an oral paper session at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America on November 10, 2021.

Disclosure statement

The author reports that there are no competing interests to declare.

Funding

The preparation of this article was supported in part by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (T32AG000221). The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The Health and Retirement Study has been supported by the National Institute on Aging (U01AG009740) and the Social Security Administration, and conducted by the University of Michigan.