Health-Related Quality of Life in Diabetic Adults with Different Levels of Perceived Social Support: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Perceived social support can influence various aspects of the physical and psychological health of diabetic patients. This study aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults with type 2 diabetes with different levels of perceived social support.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 336 adults with type 2 diabetes, participating in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). Data on the perceived social support and HRQOL were collected using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Health-Related Quality of Life Scale (SF-12v2), respectively. Data analysis was performed using the analysis of covariance and logistic regression analysis.

There were no significant differences between women and men in terms of perceived social support scores, except for the family subscale, which was higher in men than women (24.1±4.8 vs. 23.0±5.4). The HRQOL scores of the participants with low levels of perceived social support were significantly lower in the two subscales of role emotional and mental health in men and in the majority of physical and psychological subscales in women as compared to their counterparts with high levels of perceived social support. After adjusting for the effects of confounding variables, the probability of poor physical and psychological QOL in women with low levels of perceived social support was 1.93 and 2.59 times higher than women with high levels of perceived social support, respectively.

The findings of the present study indicated a gender-specific pattern in the relationship between the perceived social support and HRQOL in patients with type 2 diabetes. A relationship was observed between low perceived social support and poor HRQOL in men only in the psychological health dimension and in women in both physical and psychological health dimensions.