Objective To explore the mediating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between self-concealment and social isolation among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in the community.

Methods A total of 285 elderly patients from four communities in Chengdu were surveyed using a general demographic questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Self-Concealment Scale, and General Isolation Scale.

Results The total score for self-concealment was (35.81 ± 3.03), the total score for perceived social support was (62.65 ± 6.83), and the total score for social isolation was (38.78 ± 3.64). There was a positive correlation between self-concealment and social isolation (r = 0.523, P ＜ 0.01), and a negative correlation between perceived social support and social isolation (r = –0.579, P ＜ 0.01). Perceived social support played a partial mediating role between self-concealment and social isolation, with an indirect effect size of 0.66, accounting for 60.0% of the total effect.

Conclusions Elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in the community exhibit strong self-concealment and social isolation, and the level of perceived social support needs to be improved. The mediating role of perceived social support between self-concealment and social isolation suggests that community healthcare workers should take targeted measures to enhance the level of perceived social support among elderly patients, reduce their self-concealment and social isolation, effectively improve their quality of life, and promote healthy aging.