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 ~ 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 ~ 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).