Optimism, social support, and adjustment in African American women with breast cancer

• Published in: Journal of behavioral medicine 2008-10, Vol.31 (5), p.433-444
• Main Authors: Shelby, Rebecca A., Crespin, Tim R., Wells-Di Gregorio, Sharla M., Lamdan, Ruth M., Siegel, Jamie E., Taylor, Kathryn L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adjustment; Attitude; Biological and medical sciences; Black American people; Black or African American - psychology; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Family Medicine; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General Practice; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Health Psychology; Health Status; Humans; Illness and personality; Illness, stress and coping; Interpersonal Relations; Longitudinal Studies; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Optimism; Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Quality of Life; Regression Analysis; Self-Help Groups; Social Adjustment; Social Perception; Social Support; Stress, Psychological - diagnosis; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tumors; Women
• ISSN: 0160-7715; 1573-3521
• DOI: 10.1007/s10865-008-9167-2

Past studies show that optimism and social support are associated with better adjustment following breast cancer treatment. Most studies have examined these relationships in predominantly non-Hispanic White samples. The present study included 77 African American women treated for nonmetastatic breast cancer. Women completed measures of optimism, social support, and adjustment within 10-months of surgical treatment. In contrast to past studies, social support did not mediate the relationship between optimism and adjustment in this sample. Instead, social support was a moderator of the optimism-adjustment relationship, as it buffered the negative impact of low optimism on psychological distress, well-being, and psychosocial functioning. Women with high levels of social support experienced better adjustment even when optimism was low. In contrast, among women with high levels of optimism, increasing social support did not provide an added benefit. These data suggest that perceived social support is an important resource for women with low optimism.