The influence of support from family, friends, and community on perceived mental health status in diabetes

Strong social support is a protective factor in diabetes and mental health management. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the type of support on perceived mental health status among people with diabetes. We used data from the 2021 Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Survey (MEPS). Regression models assessed the association between mental well-being (outcome) and expected help from family, friends, and the community (exposure). Support from both friends and family were significantly associated with better mental well-being, adjusting for covariates. Secondary analyses showed that those who reported greater anticipated support from family were more likely to report infrequent feelings of lethargy. Sensitivity analyses revealed that when disaggregating sources of support and adjusting for covariates, only family support remained significant. Thus, family and friend support is important for mental health in diabetes care. Continued research on support type will help patients effectively self-manage diabetes.