title: Social support networks and depression of women suffering from early-stage breast cancer: a case control study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the areas of depression, anxiety, and social support using the structural model of the social network. By comparing the networks of two samples of breast cancer sufferers and healthy control participants, it was possible to identify differences in their relationships, in the shape of the networks themselves, and in the levels of depression and anxiety. Women with breast cancer described smaller and denser networks, including mainly kins whereas the healthy women included more friends, coworkers, and leisure companions. The levels of anxiety and depression were higher in women with breast cancer. Social network and social support measure correlated differently with depression and anxiety in the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Department, Social Gerontology Unit, Italian National Institute of Research on Aging, Ancona, Italy. c.gagliardi@inrca.it
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vespa
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cascinu
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossini