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Social‐cognitive correlates of adjustment to prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Roberts Katherine J.,
Lepore Stephen J.,
Helgeson Vicki
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.934
Subject(s) - prostate cancer , psychology , mental health , quality of life (healthcare) , meaning (existential) , prostatectomy , social support , cognition , social functioning , clinical psychology , cancer , medicine , psychiatry , psychotherapist , distress
This study examined whether social support might enhance health‐related quality of life in men ( n =89) treated for localized prostate cancer by improving their ability to cognitively process their cancer experience. Data were collected using two, structured in‐person interviews and abstracting medical records. The baseline interview was within several months (T1) after treatment for cancer, and follow‐up was 3 months later (T2). Most men (61.8%) were treated by radical prostatectomy. Results showed that T1 social support was positively related to T2 mental functioning, and this relation appeared to be mediated by T1 indicators of cognitively processing, intrusive thoughts and searching for meaning. These findings suggest that supportive social relations may improve mental functioning by helping men cognitively process their prostate cancer experience. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.