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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 ...
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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
