title: Longitudinal effects of social support and adaptive coping on the emotional well-being of survivors of localized prostate cancer.
abstract: Survivors of prostate cancer experience treatment-related physical side effects that can compromise emotional well-being for years post-treatment. There is limited research investigating how social support and the use of coping may affect the emotional well-being of this population following treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate how social support and coping impact emotional well-being 2 years after treatment in survivors of localized prostate cancer who have received either radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. Psychosocial and disease-specific measures were administered to an ethnically and demographically diverse sample of 180 men treated for localized prostate cancer at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. Regression analyses demonstrated that higher levels of social support at baseline predicted better emotional well-being 2 years later. Furthermore, higher levels of adaptive coping at baseline partially mediated the relationship between social support and emotional well-being. Supportive relationships may contribute to improved emotional well-being following treatment by facilitating the use of adaptive coping strategies. Attention should be given to strengthening social support networks and educating survivors of prostate cancer on adaptive coping techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida 33124, USA.
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Penedo
authors.forename: Natalie E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Bustillo
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: Mikal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasheed
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soloway
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kava
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Antoni
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*