Abstract
Background There is no doubt that hypertension is one of the most widespread global health problems, and it is essential to comply with prescribed medications for optimal control. A lack of studies on the effects of perceived social support (PSS) on medication adherence among hypertension patients, especially in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made us conduct this study. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that targeted hypertension patients who were visiting primary healthcare centers under the Ministry of Health in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Morisky Green and Levine (MGL) adherence scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used to assess adherence and perceived social support, respectively. Results The study included 377 hypertensive patients with a mean age of 57 years (SD = 10). The majority were male (n=226, 59.9%) and married (n=261, 69.2%). Educational levels varied, with 148 (39.3%) completing high school and 79 (21%) holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Income distribution showed 166 (44%) earning less than 5,000 SAR and 47 (12.5%) earning over 15,000 SAR. Medication adherence, assessed using the MGL scale, revealed that 121 (32.1%) had low adherence, 206 (54.6%) had moderate adherence, and 50 (13.3%) had high adherence. Perceived social support, measured using the MSPSS scale, indicated that 219 (58.1%) reported high levels of support. A significant association between medication adherence and perceived social support was found (F = 10.293, p < 0.01), with moderate adherers having higher social support scores. Socio-demographic factors influencing adherence included marital status, education level, income, and occupation, with significant associations for each (p < 0.01). Married participants and those with higher education and income levels had greater adherence. Government employees showed the highest moderate adherence while the unemployed and homemakers had lower adherence. No significant associations were found between gender or age and adherence. Conclusion Higher levels of perceived social support, in addition to the influence of socio-demographic factors, are associated with better medication adherence. Targeted interventions addressing these factors could enhance medication adherence and improve health outcomes in this population.