title: Facilitating social support: member-leader communication in a breast cancer support group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early detection and treatment have resulted in more women surviving breast cancer; increased survivorship has also increased the need for breast cancer support groups (BCSG). The ostensible goal of such groups is to provide support for the physical and emotional stressors that cancer survivors face, as well as provide information on coping and treatment options.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Although scholars have examined the effects of support groups on their group members, the examination of group facilitator messages has been largely neglected. The goal of this study was to extend theory on group leader behavior, specifically investigating how member-leader messages create social support in support groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The transcribed conversations of weekly meetings of a BCSG were examined using Interaction Process Analysis to discover how the member-leader facilitated the group's enactment and management of social support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across the meetings, task talk dominated (primarily statements of orientation or information). Furthermore, analysis of interaction sequences between the support group facilitator and other members revealed 2 broad categories of task-oriented facilitation techniques (changing the focus, clarification) and 1 category of socioemotional facilitation techniques (showing support).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support group facilitators need the ability to facilitate both task and relational aspects of social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Facilitator behaviors were highlighted as being instrumental to the creation of social support. The results from this study indicate that the ability to change the focus of interaction, to provide and require clarification on complex issues, and to show support through relational messages is needed in facilitator training.
authors: Author Affiliations: Department of Communication, North Dakota State University, Fargo (Dr Beck); and Department of Communication, North Carolina State University, Raleigh (Dr Keyton).
authors: Stephenson J
authors: SJ
authors: Beck
authors: Joann
authors: J
authors: Keyton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009658:North Dakota; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000451:nursing*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology