An Exploratory Study of Social Support, Distress, and Life Disruption Among Low-Income Hispanic Women Under Treatment for Early Stage Breast Cancer

Relationships between distress and perceived availability of social support were examined in 51 Hispanic women being treated for early stage breast cancer. Distress and different types (emotional, instrumental) and sources (spouse, women family members, other family members, friends) of support were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health psychology 2001-01, Vol.20 (1), p.41-46
Main Authors: Alferi, Susan M, Carver, Charles S, Antoni, Michael H, Weiss, Sharlene, Durán, Ron E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult Attitudes
Aged
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms
Breast Neoplasms - psychology
Breast Neoplasms - surgery
Disease Course
Distress
Female
Hispanic American people
Hispanic Americans
Human
Humans
Latinos/Latinas
Life Change Events
Low income people
Lower Income Level
Medical Treatment (General)
Middle Aged
Poverty
Quality of Life
Recreation
Social Behavior
Social Support
Stress, Psychological
Women
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Summary:Relationships between distress and perceived availability of social support were examined in 51 Hispanic women being treated for early stage breast cancer. Distress and different types (emotional, instrumental) and sources (spouse, women family members, other family members, friends) of support were measured at presurgery, postsurgery, and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Emotional support from friends and instrumental support from spouse at presurgery predicted lower distress postsurgery. No other prospective benefits of perceived support emerged. Distress at several time points predicted erosion of subsequent support, particularly instrumental support from women in the family. In contrast to the adverse effects of distress (and independent of them), illness-related disruption of recreational and social activities at 6 months elicited greater support at 12 months.
ISSN:0278-6133
1930-7810
DOI:10.1037/0278-6133.20.1.41