Self-reliance as a modifier of the effects of life stress and social support.
A variable was introduced which classified 151 women with breast cancer into those with perceived self- or other-reliance regarding their recovery from breast surgery. While this factor played no direct role in psychological adjustment, it did serve as a modifier of the relationships between stress, social support, and adjustment. Life stress assumed more and support assumed less importance for those who were self-reliant. It is suggested that self-reliance is related to locus of control. The implications of this suggestion are applied to these findings.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology