Date of Award

January 2025

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Danya Keene

Abstract

Research has identified the particular significance of social support for individuals living with chronic health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes. Housing stability and economic security are just a few key determinants for good health-- factors shaped by structures and systems acting at various levels of influence. Without stability in these dimensions, social support is one of the most significant resources to promote and maintain health by serving as a buffer for adverse physical and mental health exposures. However, less is known about how vulnerabilities related to poverty, racism, and housing insecurity can impact an individual's ability to cultivate sources of social support that can support their diabetes management. For economically marginalized individuals, social support may be critical to help them navigate barriers to diabetes management that are associated with limited resources, including inadequate housing. Examining this connection is especially critical to understanding how strong or inadequate social networks impact individuals with diabetes. Interviews with participants in Connecticut who have diabetes and are awaiting rental assistance highlighted how shared understandings and collective experiences around diabetes and health generally contributed to upholding positive behaviours related to diabetes management. Individuals found social support through bridging resources, supportive relationships with landlords, and dependable support sources, which led to alleviating stress and mental health burdens. Participant stories also provided insights into the crucial role of social support for sustainable, long-term diabetes management. Social support also emerged as a key factor in helping individuals navigate economic challenges through formal resources and programs and the collective pooling of resources from friends and family. While social support was crucial for individuals experiencing these vulnerabilities, economic and housing precarity can also be a barrier for individuals cultivating and accessing social support, which can complicate health and lead to being overly self-reliant, which usually was not conducive to sustainable good health behaviours. This study highlights the critical role of social support from diverse sources and forms in diabetes management and navigating multiple vulnerabilities.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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