Social Support and Health Maintenance among the Diabetic Elderly

Objective: Using diabetes mellitus as a case study, I examined the correlates of social support and health among the chronically ill, with regimen adherence at its center. The primary hypothesis is that social support is negatively associated with health status decline, controlling for regimen adherence and health status. The secondary hypothesis is that social support is positively associated with adherence to regimen components. Design and Data: First, support for regimen components are tested for influence on health decline, controlling for adherence and health status. The primary independent variables are social support and regimen adherence pertaining to six diabetes regimen components. Second, I regressed social support on its corresponding attribute of adherence, including controls. Data were analyzed from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2002 and 2004 waves and the 2003 Diabetes Supplement. Conclusions: Social support appears to be protective for some regimen components (checking feet for wounds or sores), but a susceptibility factor for others (exercising). Surprisingly, the social relationship variables (marital status and informal care) were positively associated with health decline, although the relationship is not significant. Race/ethnicity and gender were also not statistically significant. Social support is, however, highly associated with adherence for each regimen attribute, controlling for other factors. Implications: We gather that social support is particularly protective for less vulnerable populations. Subsequent analyses—qualitative and quantitative—should address how support influences health trajectories and disease pathways for more vulnerable populations. Such research can shed light on potential protective factors of social support for individuals and communities.