The Mediating Effect of Social Support Between Self-efficacy and Quality of Life in Young and Middle-aged Patients with T2DM

Abstract

Objective: To explore the mediating effect of social support on self-efficacy and quality of life in young and middle-aged T2DM patients, in order to improve their self-efficacy and quality of life. Methods: A total of 189 young and middle-aged T2DM patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities from June 2024 to June 2025 were selected by convenience sampling. The social support scale, self-efficacy scale and concise health survey scale were used to investigate and analyze the social support level, self-efficacy level and quality of life level of young and middle-aged T2DM patients. Results: The total score of social support in young and middle-aged T2DM patients was (44.05±6.16), the total score of self-efficacy was (30.79±2.60), and the total score of quality of life was (75.21±6.25). Social support was positively correlated with self-efficacy (r =0.410, P<0.001), social support was positively correlated with quality of life (r =0.368, P< 0.001), and self-efficacy was positively correlated with quality of life (r=0.445, P <0.01). Social support played a partial mediating role between self-efficacy and quality of life in T2DM patients, and the mediating effect accounted for 25.07 % of the total effect. Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between social support, self-efficacy and quality of life in young patients with T2DM. Social support not only directly improves the quality of life, but also plays a partial mediating role by enhancing self-efficacy, and the mediating effect is significant.