The importance of staying connected: Mediating and moderating effects of social group memberships on psychological well‐being after brain tumor

Abstract

Objective Functional impairments can lower psychological well‐being after brain tumor. Changes in social groups and confidence in support potentially impact this relationship. This study aimed to investigate the influence of social group memberships (SGMs) on the relationship between perceived cognitive and physical impairment and psychological well‐being. Methods Seventy adults (60% female) with primary brain tumor (46% benign; 18% low grade; 36% high grade) aged 22 to 75 years undertook a brief cognitive test (Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone) then completed self‐report measures of cognitive and physical impairment (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy), social groups (Exeter Identity Transition Scale), confidence in social support (Self‐Efficacy Scale), depression (depression scale of the 21‐item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder 7‐item scale), and life satisfaction (Satisfaction With Life Scale). The mediating and moderating effects of SGMs were tested using a bootstrapping method and PROCESS macro. Results Greater perceived cognitive and physical impairments were significantly related to poorer psychological well‐being. Mediation analyses indicated significant indirect effects of social group loss for depression and anxiety (P < .05), whereby the relationship between perceived functional impairment and depression and anxiety was partly accounted for by loss of SGMs. Confidence in social groups was a moderator for depression and anxiety (P < .001), such that those perceiving high levels of physical and cognitive impairments who were more confident in their social groups reported lower depression and anxiety. Conclusions Functional impairment is in part related to higher levels of depression and anxiety through loss of social groups. However, greater confidence in social support can buffer the effects of functional impairment on psychological well‐being after brain tumor. Interventions focusing on ways to maintain social participation and supportive relationships may be beneficial.

Neuro-Oncological Symptoms: A Longitudinal Quantitative Study of Family Function, Perceived Support, and Caregiver Burden

“…Thus, exercise and training are essential to achieving a beneficial outcome (Baima et al, 2017;Capozzi et al, 2016;Hansen et al, 2018;Shahpar et al, 2018), just as exercise may increase not only functional independence but also play a role in well-being (Baima et al, 2017). Moreover, functional impairment may result in a greater risk of experiencing a loss of social group membership (Cubis et al, 2019) as patients become limited in their ability to interact socially. The feeling of solidarity between patients and family caregivers is valuable, and caregivers often possess a significant capacity to be engaged in the care and support of the patient with HGG.…”

“…Overall, there was continual, negatively affected family functioning during the brain cancer trajectory as perceived by both patients and caregivers. Hence, family-focused interventions focusing on how to maintain social participation and supportive relationships are warranted (Cubis et al, 2019).…”

Sociocognitive Functioning and Psychosocial Burden in Patients with Brain Tumors

“…In a recent study, the most consistent predictor of QoL was the number of social contacts when assessed weekly over a period of 12 weeks in brain tumor patients during the first lockdown of the COVID pandemic [125]. This study highlighted the impact of social group membership on wellbeing in brain tumor patients which probably is also valid independently of the COVID pandemic [90]. Additionally, some studies demonstrated a positive influence of psychotherapeutic interventions targeting psychosocial issues [114] and indicated the positive influence of supportive social relationships on the well-being of brain tumor patients in general [90].…”

What Is on Your Mind? Impaired Social Cognition in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma Patients Despite Ongoing Complete Remission

“…The main areas referred to as the social brain encompass the medial prefrontal cortex, superior temporal sulcus, temporal-parietal junction, amygdala and insula [12]. Social relationships contribute to resilience [13]-i.e., the ability to maintain high levels of functioning in the context of adversity-and are known to buffer the adverse effects of illness on psychological well-being [14]. Social cognition is an umbrella term for mental processes associated with interpersonal interactions [15], facilitating adequate social behavior and fostering social relationships, consequently contributing to QoL [16].…”