title: Unsupportive social interactions in the weeks immediately following breast cancer diagnosis.
abstract: Unsupportive social interactions (USIs) experienced by people with cancer negatively affect psychological well-being. Forty-five interviews with 26 women were analyzed using directed content analysis to explore USIs experienced during the stressful pretreatment and early postsurgical periods after early-stage breast cancer diagnosis. Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to USIs were also explored. Seventy incidents of USIs were identified within the interviews and grouped into four previously defined and five additional categories. Anxiety, avoiding future interactions, and nondisclosure of thoughts and feelings were typical responses to USIs. These responses hold implications for women's psychological well-being and need for future interventions and research.
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo School of Nursing, The State University of New York, NY 14214, USA. rmlally@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lally
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hydeman
authors.forename: Kathleen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Schwert
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Edge
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors