A survey of social network status and its related factors for older adults with type 2 diabetes in Beijing, China

Aim: To understand the social network status of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Beijing, China and explore its related factors. Design: A cross-sectional survey using a sample of convenience was conducted. Methods: From April to September 2019, Lubben Social Network Scale -6 (LSNS-6) was used to evaluate the social network of 300 older adults with T2DM from the outpatient and inpatient departments of three hospitals and five communities in Beijing. Self-designed demographics and clinical sheets, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 were used to investigate the related factors of their social networks. The Equator Research Checklist used in this study is STROBE checklist. Results: The score of LSNS-6 of the older adults was 16.75 +/- 7.02 (scale: 0 similar to 30), the score of family network dimension was 8.32 +/- 3.63 (scale: 0 - 15), and friends network dimension was 8.43 +/- 4.74 (scale: 0 similar to 15). Additionally, 22.67% of the older adults had social isolation. Social support, medical payment, self-assessed health status, residential arrangement and smoking status were associated with the social network level of the older adults with T2DM (p < .05).