Interaction of social support and psychological stress on anxiety and depressive symptoms in breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to assess the association of psychological stress and social support with anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.


METHODS
Four hundred and one patients with breast cancer were recruited. Their demographic characteristics, psychological stress and social support were determined with a structured questionnaire, and their anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.


RESULTS
Psychological stressors caused by breast cancer diagnosed originated from five major sources, as determined by factor analysis. These included "Worrying about health being harmed, " "Fear of decline of physical function, " "Fear of work being harmed, " "Worry about daily life and social relationship being restricted, " and "Fear of family being harmed. " Hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that, after adjusting for gender, age, marital status, educational level, and duration of illness, solid social support can alleviate such symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that there are strong associations between patients' needs and psychological distress with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Social support might affect these associations in Chinese women with breast cancer.
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Dong-Gen
DG
Liu
Shu-Sen
SS
Wang
Rou-Jun
RJ
Peng
Tao
T
Qin
Yan-Xia
YX
Shi
Xiao-Yu
XY
Teng
Xi
X
Wang
Wei-Qing
WQ
Chen
Zhong-Yu
ZY
Yuan
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult