Impact of Social Support on Health Literacy Among People With Diabetes: A Cross‐Sectional Study

AIM: In recent years, the critical role of health literacy in diabetes management has become increasingly prominent. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of social support on health literacy among patients with diabetes, to test the mediating role of self-efficacy and empowerment between social support and health literacy, and the moderating role of eHealth literacy. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study conducted between August 2023 and June 2024. METHODS: This study adopted the cluster sampling method and conducted a questionnaire survey among 251 patients with diabetes in a tertiary hospital in Wuhu City, Anhui Province. The questionnaires included the Social Support Rating Scale, the Self-Efficacy for Diabetes scale, the Health Empowerment Scale, the eHealth Literacy Scale and the Diabetes Health Literacy Scale. RESULTS: Social support was positively associated with health literacy in patients with diabetes. Self-efficacy and empowerment mediated the relationship and formed chained mediation pathways respectively. eHealth literacy has a moderating role between self-efficacy and empowerment. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that social support influences health literacy among patients with diabetes through the mediating pathways of self-efficacy and empowerment, and that this process is moderated by eHealth literacy. These findings provide a theoretical basis and practical insights for improving health literacy among patients with diabetes. IMPLICATIONS: Enhancing health literacy among people with diabetes by strengthening social support, self-efficacy and empowerment levels, while focusing on the technology-enabling role of eHealth literacy in this context. REPORTING METHOD: This study adheres to the relevant EQUATOR guidelines based on the STROBE cross-sectional reporting method. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: We thank all patients who participated in the study for their understanding and support.