Social support as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in women with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine relationships between symptom distress and quality of life when religious support and personal support were introduced as mediating variables.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, correlational.


METHODS
Internet recruitment following university institutional review board approval.


METHODS
Mailed questionnaires from 100 women with breast cancer, mean age 46, length of time since surgery 1 to 24 months, predominantly White.


METHODS
Symptom Distress Scale, Religious Support Scale, FACT-B, and Facit-Sp-12.


RESULTS
Personal support was positively related to quality of life and partially mediated the effects of symptom distress. Religious support did not mediate symptom distress and was not directly related to quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Social support from family members and friends helped to decrease the negative effects of symptoms on quality of life. This study underscores the need to continue to assess for symptom distress and adequacy of personal support throughout the cancer trajectory and to facilitate the garnering of support resources when needed.
Manning-Walsh
Juanita
J
Western Michigan University, Bronson school of Nursing, Kalamazoo, MI, USA. juanita.manning@wmich.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*