Objectives Depression is a frequent complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between low social support and risk for depression in people with type 2 diabetes through a meta-analysis.
Methods PubMed, ProQuest, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched for English-language articles published up to 2021. Pooled adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated using a random-effect model with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was evaluated by using the Cochrane Q test and I2 statistics. The risk of publication bias was estimated using a funnel plot, the Egger test, and the Begg test. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools were used to assess the quality of evidence and the risk of bias.
Results Eleven studies were included in this meta-analysis, containing a total of 3151 people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The pooled analysis showed that people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had low social support had twice as high a risk of depression as those with high social support (aOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.70; p<0.001). A random-effect model was used because the heterogeneity was high (I2= 87%).
Conclusions Low social support was found to increase the risk of depression among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further investigation into factors that may moderate this relationship is required.
Summary
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Depression prevalence, screening, and treatment in adult outpatients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: A nationally representative cross-sectional study (National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 2014–2019) Angela Chieh, Jeremy Chu, Lauren A. Wallace, Li Li, Rongbing Xie Journal of Affective Disorders.2025; 368: 471. CrossRef
Staying connected: An umbrella review of meta-analyses on the push-and-pull of social connection in depression Luisa De Risio, Mauro Pettorruso, Rebecca Collevecchio, Barbara Collacchi, Marta Boffa, Mario Santorelli, Massimo Clerici, Giovanni Martinotti, Francesca Zoratto, Marta Borgi Journal of Affective Disorders.2024; 345: 358. CrossRef
The risk factors for mental health disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews with and without meta-analysis Amani Busili, Kanta Kumar, Laura Kudrna, Idris Busaily Heliyon.2024; 10(7): e28782. CrossRef
Distress and Coping Strategy among Indonesian Men with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Fajar Ari Nugroho, Rico Budhiarta Chandra, Nike Laila, Sera Rukia, Inggita Kusumastuty, Anggun Rindang Cempaka, Lola Ayu Istifiani, Atifa Nafia Hasantie Latif Nurse Media Journal of Nursing.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Is the change in longitudinal cognitive function in older adults with diabetes affected by trajectory classes of depressive symptoms? Gyeong A Kang, Ju Young Yoon Public Health Nursing.2024; 41(5): 1006. CrossRef
Exploring the interconnectedness of depression, anxiety, diabetes distress, and related psychosocial factors in adults with type 2 diabetes: A network analysis Wanting Zu, Fei Li, Xiaoxuan Ma, Shiyun Zhang, Wenbo Nie, Lisheng Wang Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science.2024; 34: 100843. CrossRef
Exploring the association of social connections and food security among adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes: a population-based study Ramona S. DeJesus, Jessica A. Grimm, Chun Fan, Jennifer St. Sauver Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Associations between biomarkers and skeletal muscle function in individuals with osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis Stephanie L. Smith, Lorna Paul, Martijn P. M. Steultjens, Rebecca L. Jones Arthritis Research & Therapy.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Effectiveness of social support-based interventions in preventing depression in people without clinical depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Henar Campos-Paíno, Patricia Moreno-Peral, Irene Gómez-Gómez, Sonia Conejo-Cerón, Santiago Galán, Sara Reyes-Martín, Juan Ángel Bellón International Journal of Social Psychiatry.2023; 69(2): 253. CrossRef
Individuelle Behandlung bei Glaukompatienten mit einem Diabetes mellitus Jan Luebke Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde.2023; 240(02): 142. CrossRef
Prevalence of comorbid depression and associated factors among hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Hunan, China Rehanguli Maimaitituerxun, Wenhang Chen, Jingsha Xiang, Atipatsa C. Kaminga, Xin Yin Wu, Letao Chen, Jianzhou Yang, Aizhong Liu, Wenjie Dai BMC Psychiatry.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
The prevalence and predictors of depression and disability in older adults and elderly patients with Diabetes in India: Cross-sectional analysis from the Longitudinal Study on Ageing Baani Sodhi, Mansi Malik, Paras Agarwal, Saurav Basu Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews.2023; 17(4): 102765. CrossRef
Depression and determinants among diabetes mellitus patients in Ethiopia, a systematic review and meta-analysis Kirubel Dagnaw Tegegne, Natnael Atnafu Gebeyehu, Mesfin Wudu Kassaw BMC Psychiatry.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Individuelle Behandlung bei Glaukompatienten mit einem Diabetes mellitus Jan Lübke Diabetes aktuell.2023; 21(02): 68. CrossRef
Diabetes and Mental Health David J. Robinson, Kimberley Hanson, Akshay B. Jain, Jessica C. Kichler, Gaurav Mehta, Osnat C. Melamed, Michael Vallis, Harpreet S. Bajaj, Tracy Barnes, Jeremy Gilbert, Kristin Honshorst, Robyn Houlden, James Kim, Joanne Lewis, Barbara MacDonald, Dylan M Canadian Journal of Diabetes.2023; 47(4): 308. CrossRef
The association between screen time and depression symptoms severity among adults with diabetes: A cross-sectional study Layan Sukik, Bushra Hoque, Linda Boutefnouchet, Mohamed Elhadary, Hiba Bawadi, Mujahed Shraim Primary Care Diabetes.2023; 17(6): 619. CrossRef