Social network effect on self-rated health in type 2 diabetic patients--results from a longitudinal population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim is to analyse the association between social network and self-rated health in a longitudinal design for persons with type 2 diabetes, comparing them with persons without diabetes.


METHODS
The analyses are based on data from the population-based 'KORA-A study' conducted in the region of Augsburg (Germany), with data from 1990/1995 (t0) and 1998 (t1), including 164 persons with type 2 diabetes and 207 persons without diabetes. The social network was assessed by the Berkman/Syme index.


RESULTS
For the type 2 diabetes group, the multivariate analyses show that a high score of social network at t0 is associated with good self-rated health at t1, even if self-rated health at t0 is included in the model (OR 2.69; 95% CI: 1.21-5.98). For the non-diabetes group, no such association was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The results point towards a 'buffer effect' of the social network, indicating that the positive effect on health can be seen mostly among those who are exposed to a high level of burden, in this case exposed to a chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes.
Eller
Martina
M
Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management, Neuherberg, Germany.
Holle
Rolf
R
Landgraf
Rüdiger
R
Mielck
Andreas
A
D000368:Aged; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors