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Types and sources of social support for people afflicted with cancer
Author(s) -
Berterö Carina M
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
nursing and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1442-2018
pISSN - 1441-0745
DOI - 10.1046/j.1442-2018.2000.00044.x
Subject(s) - social support , emotional support , affect (linguistics) , significant difference , psychology , perception , social network (sociolinguistics) , clinical psychology , demography , medicine , social psychology , social media , communication , neuroscience , sociology , political science , law
The social support network of adults afflicted with cancer related to sexual organs and the breasts was assessed in this study. Two hundred and eighteen respondents completed the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire. The social support network of adults with cancer was found to include the following: spouses/partner, family, friends, other non‐professionals and professionals. The average number of people in each network was about eight. Overall, the respondents reported a high amount of perceived total functional support concerning affect, affirmation and aid. The difference between being male or female and being married or not was statistically significant. There was no difference in the perception of support between married and unmarried respondents. The majority of the respondents were married. Women scored higher in emotional support than did men, and this difference was statistically significant. Having children and grandchildren also showed significant differences according to social support. The duration of the relationship with network members ranged from less than 6 months to more than 5 years.