Iranian Journal of Diabetes and Obesity

en The Role of Supportive Groups in Enhancing Adherence to Physical Activity among Diabetic Patients in Khuzestan Province تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of support groups to enhance physical activity adherence of patients with diabetes in the Khuzestan Province of Iran to improve diabetes management and help reduce complications from the disease. Materials and Methods: The study used a mixed methods approach. The qualitative phase included the analysis of twenty-three diabetic patients, a professor from a university, and sporting federation personnel in semi-structured interviews. This phase and advanced a theoretical structure with four primary types and 19 placeholders of exercise adherence. The quantitative phase employed a 59-item highly reliable questionnaire (Chronbach’s alpha= 0.923) to diabetic patients. A sample of 384 respondents was obtained using a random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using the software SPSS and Smart PLS. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used. Results: Support was personal (self-efficacy and other digital support tools 11.92 percent), family (joint activities 42.09 percent), friends (helps in alleviating social loneliness, 7.03%), and public (enhanced policies and infrastructure, 9.73%). 70.78 percent of support was exercised to help with adherence to physical activity. Conclusion: Support groups are critical to increasing physical activity adherence among diabetes patients. Conclusion: By removing obstacles through improved self-efficacy, family involvement, peer connections, and public resources, support groups dramatically increase diabetic patients' adherence to physical activity. It is crucial to incorporate culturally sensitive methods, educational initiatives, and digital platforms. Long-term efficacy, underlying mechanisms, and cultural influences on the uptake of social support should all be investigated in future research.   Diabetes, Exercise adherence, Supper groups, Khuzestan 238 247 http://ijdo.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-30-461&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Tahereh Azmsha 0000-0002-3077-2306 Yes Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran. Esmaeil Veisia 0000-0003-4860-4682 No Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran. Asadollah Pirayesh 0000-0002-7154-9039 No PHD Stunent of Sport Management. Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.