Effects of e-health literacy on health-related quality of life in young adults with type 2 diabetes: Parallel mediation of diabetes self-efficacy and self-care behaviors

Aim: To explore the impact of e-health literacy (e-HL) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in young adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), focusing on the mediating roles of diabetes self-efficacy and self-care behaviors. Background: If glucose levels are not kept within the target range, people with T2D may experience complications such as retinopathy, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disorders. Methods: The participants were 150 young adults, aged 18 to 39, with T2D. We assessed e-HL, diabetes self-care behaviors, diabetes self-efficacy, and HRQOL through a structured online survey. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, incorporating Pearson's correlation and PROCESS macro mediation analysis. Results: E-HL, diabetes self-efficacy, and diabetes self-care behavior together accounted for 40.6 % of the variance in HRQOL. Higher e-HL was significantly correlated with improved HRQOL. A significant mediating effect of diabetes self-efficacy in the relationship between e-HL and HRQOL was observed, with an effect size of 0.300 ([95 % confidence interval = 0.055, 0.577]). However, the mediating effect of diabetes self-care behavior in the relationship between e-HL and HRQOL through diabetes self-efficacy was small and not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study underscores the critical role of e-HL in enhancing HRQOL among young adults with T2D. It highlights the need for targeted digital health education, especially in subgroups with lower educational levels or poor health habits. The findings advocate for tailored interventions to boost self-efficacy and self-care behaviors, thereby improving overall quality of life in this population.