TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the multidimensional benefits of breast cancer support groups
AU - Michalec, Barret
N1 - Funding Information:
The author would like to thank the East Carolina University Faculty Senate for two grants which supported this research (Van Willigen and Schreier PIs). Data collection was completed by the Survey Research Laboratory, Regional Development Services, East Carolina University. He would also like to thank Dr. Marieke Van Willigen, Dr. Jim Mitchell, Dr. Bob Edwards, Dr. Ann Schrieir, and anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this manuscript.
Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Utilizing a more representative sample than previous research, this study examines differences in breast cancer survivors' social, psychological, and physical quality of life by participation in breast cancer support groups. This research also explores whether all breast cancer survivors who participate in breast cancer support groups are benefiting equally. The sample includes 958 women of Eastern North Carolina (26% African American, 73% Caucasian) diagnosed with breast cancer who completed interviews concerning their experience with the disease, as well as their social, psychological, and physical well-being. Support group participation was found to have a significant positive affect on social and overall QOL; yet these affects on social QOL were found to be insignificant, and merely marginally significant concerning overall QOL when controlling for sociodemographics, other social support networks, and disease characteristics. Significant differences were found in the characteristics of participants and non-participants of breast cancer support groups and a number of these differences were found to have significant affects on QOL. These findings suggest that future research needs to investigate the relationships between participation in a breast cancer support group and measures of QOL while controlling for potential confounding factors.
AB - Utilizing a more representative sample than previous research, this study examines differences in breast cancer survivors' social, psychological, and physical quality of life by participation in breast cancer support groups. This research also explores whether all breast cancer survivors who participate in breast cancer support groups are benefiting equally. The sample includes 958 women of Eastern North Carolina (26% African American, 73% Caucasian) diagnosed with breast cancer who completed interviews concerning their experience with the disease, as well as their social, psychological, and physical well-being. Support group participation was found to have a significant positive affect on social and overall QOL; yet these affects on social QOL were found to be insignificant, and merely marginally significant concerning overall QOL when controlling for sociodemographics, other social support networks, and disease characteristics. Significant differences were found in the characteristics of participants and non-participants of breast cancer support groups and a number of these differences were found to have significant affects on QOL. These findings suggest that future research needs to investigate the relationships between participation in a breast cancer support group and measures of QOL while controlling for potential confounding factors.
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Psychooncology
KW - Quality of life
KW - Social support
KW - Support groups
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U2 - 10.1300/J077v23n02_10
DO - 10.1300/J077v23n02_10
M3 - Article
C2 - 16492657
AN - SCOPUS:33645750810
SN - 0734-7332
VL - 23
SP - 159
EP - 179
JO - Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
JF - Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
IS - 2-3
ER -