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Breast cancer: Varied perceptions of social support in the illness experience

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  • Peters-Golden, Holly

Abstract

Social support has been identified as an important factor in cancer. However, the stigma associated with cancer often leads to avoidance behavior and withdrawal of support. This investigation examines percieved social support in a population of 100 breast cancer patients, and anticipated social support among 100 disease-free individuals. Results demonstrate that healthy individuals report assignment of stigma and avoidance behavior directed towards cancer patients, yet they believe they themselves would have a dense network of support to call upon if stricken with cancer. Patients report nonmaterialization of expected support networks, and decreased adjustment due to this subjective experience. In addition, patients assert that the support extended to them is often inappropriate in nature, due to the mistaken assumption on the part of healthy individuals that the most salient concern of a mastectomized woman is the loss of her breast, rather than the fact that she has cancer.

Suggested Citation

  • Peters-Golden, Holly, 1982. "Breast cancer: Varied perceptions of social support in the illness experience," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 483-491, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:16:y:1982:i:4:p:483-491
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    Cited by:

    1. Clarke, Juanne N. & Everest, Michelle M., 2006. "Cancer in the mass print media: Fear, uncertainty and the medical model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(10), pages 2591-2600, May.
    2. Harper G Hubbeling & Shoshana M Rosenberg & Maria Cecilia González-Robledo & Julia G Cohn & Cynthia Villarreal-Garza & Ann H Partridge & Felicia M Knaul, 2018. "Psychosocial needs of young breast cancer survivors in Mexico City, Mexico," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-23, May.
    3. Timmermans, Stefan & Tietbohl, Caroline, 2018. "Fifty years of sociological leadership at Social Science and Medicine," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 209-215.

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