Correlation between sense of belonging and diabetes self-management among adults with type 1 diabetes

Effective self-management is essential for individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D); however, the role of psychosocial factors remains incompletely understood. Although social support has been widely studied, less attention has been given to the sense of belonging—the subjective experience of being accepted, valued, and connected to others—as a potential correlate of diabetes self-management. This cross-sectional study included 205 adults with T1D selected through multistage cluster sampling from community healthcare centers in Isfahan, Iran. Participants completed the Sense of Belonging Instrument (SOBI) and the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire–Revised (DSMQ-R). Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between sense of belonging and diabetes self-management outcomes. A greater sense of belonging was associated with better overall diabetes self-management and several specific self-management behaviors. The psychological experience of belonging (SOBI-P) was positively associated with glucose management/monitoring, dietary control, physician contact, and overall diabetes self-management, whereas the antecedent dimension of belonging (SOBI-A) was associated with dietary control, physical activity, and overall self-management. Regression analyses indicated that both dimensions of belonging were significantly associated with overall diabetes self-management; however, the observed effect sizes were modest. Neither SOBI-P nor SOBI-A was significantly associated with self-reported HbA1c. Sense of belonging was positively associated with diabetes self-management among adults with T1D. Although the observed associations were modest, the findings suggest that social connectedness may represent a relevant psychosocial resource for supporting engagement in diabetes self-management behaviors. Strategies that foster belonging and meaningful social connections may complement existing diabetes self-management support and education programs. Not applicable.