Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Abstract
Social Support in Fighting Cancer
Habib Aghabakhshi1
Esmail Rashedi2
Date of Receive: 2014/5/18
Date of Accept: 2014/6/7
Abstract
The present research studied the effect of social support on the ability to
cope with breast cancer in 100 female patients who suffered from the disease
and referred to Taleghani Hospital as outpatients or inpatients. Employing a
survey method, data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed to reveal
that there is a direct and significant relationship between social support and the
ability to cope with breast cancer. In addition, each one of the studying
independent variables, i.e. tangible support, emotional support, affectionate
support, informational support and positive social interaction support as well as
formal and informal support and family support, had a direct and significant
relationship with the ability to cope with the disease separately. Moreover, a
multivariable regression analysis showed that among the independent variables
studied, the most important is positive social interaction support. Other than the
above results, the analysis of the relationship between demographic variables of
age and education and the amount of social support and coping ability revealed
that the demographic variable of age has a negative relationship with the amount
of social support, i.e. the patients of older age received less social support
compared with younger patients, and the demographic variable of education has
a direct relationship with the amount of social support, as social support
increases along with an increase in the level of education. In addition, there is a
direct and significant relationship between education and coping ability.
Therefore, the present research reinforces former theories and studies
concerning the positive effect of social support on the ability to cope with cancer
and improve one’s health.
Key Words: Social Support, Coping ability, Breast Cancer, Social work
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