Social support as a mediator of optimism and distress in breast cancer survivors

Breast cancer patients can experience emotional distress as a result of diagnosis and treatment. Higher levels of optimism and social support are associated with less emotional distress in cancer patients. This 12-month prospective study followed 69 women who had completed treatment for Stages 0-II...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of consulting and clinical psychology Vol. 71; no. 4; p. 805
Main Authors Trunzo, Joseph J, Pinto, Bernardine M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.2003
Subjects
Adult
Attitude
Breast Neoplasms - psychology
Depressive Disorder, Major - etiology
Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Prospective Studies
Social Support
Survivors - psychology
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Breast cancer patients can experience emotional distress as a result of diagnosis and treatment. Higher levels of optimism and social support are associated with less emotional distress in cancer patients. This 12-month prospective study followed 69 women who had completed treatment for Stages 0-II breast cancer. At 3-month intervals, participants completed measures of mood disturbance, optimism, and social support. As hypothesized, affective social support mediated the relationship between optimism and distress in early-stage breast cancer survivors at baseline and 6 months but not at 1 year. In contrast, confidant social support did not mediate the optimism-distress relationship at any time point. Clinical and research implications of these findings are discussed.
ISSN:0022-006X
DOI:10.1037/0022-006X.71.4.805