Social support, support groups, and the cancer patient.

Abstract

This article surveys the literature on social support and cancer and reports results from an empirical investigation of the factors that lead cancer patients to join social support groups. Although most cancer patients report high levels of social support following cancer, some patients experience isolated instances of rejection or do not receive the type of support they want from family, friends, and medical caregivers. This appears to be one impetus for joining cancer support groups. In addition, cancer support group attenders are more likely to be white middle-class females, to report having more problems, and to use social support resources of all kinds than are nonattenders. Implications for the study of social support and for outreach to cancer patients are discussed.

Psychological aspects of prostate cancer: a clinical review

“…One factor is the lack of awareness of the possibilities to join a social support group. 102 Urologists or urology nurses could ask prostate cancer patients about their attitude toward group participation and must explain the benefits and give information about the patient association or support groups. The medical caregivers should also be alert on the social support system of the patient.…”

The psychological consequences of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for family members of patients at risk for sudden death.

“…[33][34][35] Social support serves to blunt the effects of stress and enables the individual to cope with stress more effectively. The resources provided by others in a social support group may help the individual redefine the situation as less threatening or may bolster the individual's ability to cope with the imposed demands.36 The social support intervention in the CPRsocial support condition gave family members an opportunity to express their feelings before returning home and may have given them the skills to communicate about the CPR training in a way that was reassuring to the patient.…”

Aspectos da amizade de adolescentes portadores de diabetes e câncer

“…O apoio social pode reduzir o sofrimento psicológico do adolescente que enfrenta uma enfermidade (Taylor, Falke, Shoptaw & Lichtman, 1986), e também afeta a adesão ao tratamento em adolescentes portadores de doenças crônicas (Pendley et al, 2002). Parentes e amigos são fontes de apoio importantes na adaptação à doença crônica (Ritchie, 2001), mas o apoio dos amigos tem sido pouco investigado na adolescência (Helsen, Vollebergh & Meeus, 2000).…”