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The role of social support in mediating levels of distress levels among cancer patients
Abstract   Peer reviewed

The role of social support in mediating levels of distress levels among cancer patients

Cindy Davis, Matthew Moore and Tamara Cadet
Psycho-Oncology, Vol.27(Supplement 1), pp.93-93
American Psychosocial Oncology Society Annual Conference, 15th (Tucson, United States, 22-Feb-2018–24-Feb-2018)
2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4623
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https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4623View
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Abstract

Clinical Sciences Oncology and Carcinogenesis Psychology oncology psychology biomedical social sciences
Background/Purpose:Distress screening is an evidenced-based prac-tice that is useful in identifying issues that influence patients' abilitiesto cope and manage treatment. Evidence also indicates that social sup-port is a consistent protective factor in the well-being of cancerpatients. This study explored the role of social support and distress ina national sample of cancer patients.Methods:Cancer patients (N = 1,148) with a range of cancer types at19 cancer centers across the USA were surveyed as part of an elec-tronic intake assessment on distress levels (NCCN Distress Thermom-eter) and various domains of social support (e.g., seven questions withordered responses). Participants include 366 males and 782 females,aged from 18 to 93 (Mean = 60, SD = 14.99). Analyses were conductedto determine the effect of social support on reported levels of psycho-logical distress.Results:Over 50% of participants reported significant levels of dis-tress (score of 4 or higher). Regression modeling indicated that thepredictors explained 21% of the total variation in distress scores (R2= .207,F(6, 1141) = 49.607,p< .001). In five of seven domains,there was a significant directly relationship between social supportand psychological distress. Specifically, patients having friends/fam-ily that could help financially (β=-.253,p= .001) and everydayresponsibilities (β=-.355,p= .001), receiving direct emotional sup-port from others (β=-.357,p= .001), and having people in theirlives to help in difficult times reported lower levels of distress (β=-.465,p< .001). Older participants reported less distress com-pared to younger participants (β=-.018,p< .001), and thosewho received more frequently advice from others reported higherlevels of distress (β= .627,p< .001). Gender showed no statisti-cally significant differences in distress scores.Conclusions and Implications:Distress in cancer patients can compli-cate treatment and lead to negative psychosocial outcomes, includingposttraumatic stress. Understanding the dynamics that influence dis-tress is an important step toward improving the quality of life for can-cer patients and equipping social workers to deliver targeted andtimely care.

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