Breast cancer: varied perceptions of social support in the illness experience.

Social support has been identified as an important factor in cancer. However, the stigma associated with cancer often leads to avoidance behavior and withdrawal of support. This investigation examines perceived social support in a population of 100 breast cancer patients, and anticipated social support among 100 disease-free individuals. Results demonstrate that healthy individuals report assignment of stigma and avoidance behavior directed towards cancer patients, yet they believe they themselves would have a dense network of support to call upon if stricken with cancer. Patients report nonmaterialization of expected support networks, and decreased adjustment due to this subjective experience. In addition, patients assert that the support extended to them is often inappropriate in nature, due to the mistaken assumption on the part of healthy individuals that the most salient concern of a mastectomized woman is the loss of her breast, rather than the fact that she has cancer.

[1]  Barton J. Hirsch,et al.  Psychological dimensions of social networks: A multimethod analysis , 1979 .

[2]  S. Sontag Illness as Metaphor , 1978 .

[3]  Z. Gussow The role of self-help clubs in adaptation to chronic illness and disability. , 1976, Social science & medicine.

[4]  C. Tolsdorf,et al.  Social networks, support, and coping: an exploratory study. , 1976, Family process.

[5]  R. Barnett,et al.  We help each other: primary prevention for the widowed. , 1976, American Journal of Psychiatry.

[6]  K. Stavraky Psychological factors in the outcome of human cancer , 1968 .

[7]  N. Lin,et al.  Social support, stressful life events, and illness: a model and an empirical test. , 1979, Journal of health and social behavior.

[8]  M. Pilisuk Kinship, social networks, social support and health. , 1978, Social science & medicine.

[9]  E. Day The patient with cancer and the family. , 1966, The New England journal of medicine.

[10]  N. Fiore Fighting cancer--one patient's perspective. , 1979, The New England journal of medicine.

[11]  A. Knopf Changes in women's opinions about cancer. , 1976, Social science & medicine.

[12]  J. Imboden Psychosocial determinants of recovery. , 1972, Advances in psychosomatic medicine.

[13]  J. Petersen,et al.  Notes from the Cancer Underground: Participation in the Laetrile Movement , 1978 .

[14]  R. Cortell,et al.  Employing the cancer patient: a mutual responsibility. , 1974, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[15]  R. Moses,et al.  DIFFERENTIAL LEVELS OF AWARENESS OF ILLNESS: THEIR RELATION TO SOME SALIENT FEATURES IN CANCER PATIENTS , 1966, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[16]  Alberta Lipson,et al.  Help Patterns in Severe Illness: The Roles of Kin Network, Non-Family Resources, and Institutions , 1972 .

[17]  J. House,et al.  Social support, occupational stress, and health. , 1980, Journal of health and social behavior.

[18]  A. MacBride,et al.  Social support networks and the crisis of bereavement. , 1977, Social science & medicine.

[19]  J. Bloom Social support, accommodation to stress and adjustment to breast cancer. , 1982, Social science & medicine.

[20]  J. McIntosh,et al.  Processes of communication, information seeking and control associated with cancer: A selective review of the literature. , 1974, Social science & medicine.

[21]  L. H. Levy Self-Help Groups: Types and Psychological Processes , 1976 .

[22]  A. Weisman,et al.  The Existential Plight in Cancer: Significance of the First 100 Days , 1977, International journal of psychiatry in medicine.

[23]  C. Wortman,et al.  Interpersonal Relationships and Cancer: A Theoretical Analysis , 1979 .

[24]  O. E. Kelly Make today count , 1977 .

[25]  J. Cassel,et al.  Social Support and Health , 1977, Medical care.