Psychological impact of cancer and cancer surgery. II. Depressive reactions associated with surgery for cancer

Sutherland, Arthur M.; Orbach, Charles E.

doi:10.1002/1097-0142(195309)6:5<958::aid-cncr2820060514>3.0.co;2-f

Cited by 40 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Chronicity of physical discomfort and disruption of function may be most responsible for the deleterious effects of such stresses on morale and adjustment to living with illness (12,13,18,39). Expressions of support received during times of severe and chronic disability may only serve to highlight the person's inability to reciprocate that support.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Social Supports as Stress Buffers for Adult Cancer Patients

Revenson

Wollman

Felton

1983

Psychosomatic Medicine

129

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Although a growing body of research evidence suggests that persons encountering stressful life circumstances are protected from potential declines in health and well-being by supportive relationships, the evidence for the stress-buffering qualities of social support for cancer patients is equivocal. This study examines the relationship between naturally occurring, supportive behaviors and psychological adjustment to the illness for 32 nonhospitalized adult cancer patients, and includes follow-up data collected 7 months after the initial interview. Results indicated that although support appeared to have few effects on adjustment at either time point for the sample as a whole, social support was related to poorer adjustment for patients not undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments, or for those with many limitations on physical functioning. These findings, though tentative because of the sample size, point to the need to consider the specific contextual stresses the cancer patient is experiencing in evaluating psychosocial adjustment to the illness, and suggest caution in assuming social supports to be a universal boon.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Social Supports as Stress Buffers for Adult Cancer Patients

Revenson

Wollman

Felton

1983

Psychosomatic Medicine

129

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“…In fact, one of the greatest fears patients have during the early stages of cancer is that they will be rejected and abandoned by loved ones (cf. Sutherland & Orbach, 1953).…”

Section: The Cancer Patient's Situationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interpersonal Relationships and Cancer: A Theoretical Analysis

Wortman¹,

Dunkel-Schetter²

1979

Journal of Social Issues

466

230

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This paper focuses on the effect of cancer on the patient's interpersonal relationships, and the ultimate impact of these relationships on the patient's emotional adjustment to the disease. In a detailed theoretical analysis, both the patient's reaction to the illness and others' responses toward the patient are explored. Concerning the patient, the following issues are discussed: (1) fears and uncertainties that develop as one attempts to cope with the diagnosis; (2) the consequent need for clarification and support; and (3) the barriers to receiving validation and support from others. Others' reactions to the patient are hypothesized to be a function of a conflict between (1) their feelings about the illness, which are predominantly negative; and (2) their beliefs about appropriate behaviors to display when interacting with cancer patients (optimism and cheerfulness). This conflict results in behavioral responses that are unintentionally damaging to the patient, including physical avoidance, avoidance of open discussion of the illness, and discrepancies among behaviors. The impact of others' behavior on the patient and the patient's subsequent attempts to solve their interpersonal problems are discussed. The paper concludes with implications for intervention and research.

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“…It is known that breast cancer produces a variety of adjustment problems, including depression (e.g., Anstice, 1970;Brown, 1978;Roberts, Furnival, & Forrest, 1972;Sutherland & Orbach, 1953), anxiety (Ray, 1977;Renneker & Cutler, 1952;Roberts et al, 1972;Sutherland & Orbach, 1953), anger or hostility (Meyerowitz, 1980;Taylor & Levin, 1976), and feelings of shame and worthlessness (Renneker & Cutler, 1952;Shands, Finesinger, Cobb, & Abrams, 1951). Behavioral concomitants of these negative emotions can include insomnia (Brown, 1978;Jamison, Wellisch, & Pasnau, 1978;Renneker & Cutler, 1952), inability to concentrate (Ervin, 1973), loss of appetite (Jamison et al, 1978), greater tranquilizer and alcohol usage (Brown, 1978;Jamison et al, 1978), and thoughts of suicide (Jamison et al,, 1978;Katz, Weiner, Gallagher, & Hellman, 1970;Renneker & Cutler, 1952).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Attributions, beliefs about control, and adjustment to breast cancer.

Taylor¹,

Lichtman²,

Wood³

1984

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

755

627

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Attributions for cancer and beliefs about control over cancer were examined for their association with adjustment to breast cancer. Although 95% of the respondents made attributions for their cancer, no particular attribution (e.g., stress, diet) was associated with better adjustment. Analyses of attributions of responsibility for the cancer to the self, environment, another person, or chance yielded only a negative relation between adjustment and blaming another person. In contrast, both the belief that one could now control one's cancer and the belief that others (e.g. the physician) could now control the cancer were significantly associated with good adjustment. Of the different types of control, cognitive control was most strongly associated with adjustment, behavior control was less strongly associated with adjustment, and information control and retrospective control were unassociated with adjustment. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

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Psychological impact of cancer and cancer surgery. II. Depressive reactions associated with surgery for cancer

Cited by 40 publications

References 2 publications

Social Supports as Stress Buffers for Adult Cancer Patients

Social Supports as Stress Buffers for Adult Cancer Patients

Interpersonal Relationships and Cancer: A Theoretical Analysis

Attributions, beliefs about control, and adjustment to breast cancer.

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