title: Social support buffers the effect of self-esteem on quality of life of early-stage cervical cancer survivors in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of self-esteem and social support on quality of life (QoL) in stage I and II cervical cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 110 participants who had been diagnosed with stage I-II cervical cancer and had completed their treatment 5 years or more before data collection. Each participant completed four structured questionnaires: a demographic-disease survey, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire 30. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants' mean age was 60.74 ± 10.69 years. Better QoL was significantly associated with younger age, higher self-esteem, and stronger social support; in addition, social support buffered the effect of self-esteem on global QoL. Together, five variables (age, time since treatment, self-esteem, social support, and the interaction term of self-esteem and social support) explained 36% of the variance in global QoL, with self-esteem being the strongest predictor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study advance current knowledge of QoL in cervical cancer survivors by demonstrating that survivors with low self-esteem and social support tend to have lower QoL than those with low self-esteem but high social support. Health professionals should help survivors seek support and provide appropriate strategies to expand their social networks and enhance their self-esteem to improve their global QoL after cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: chiachunli@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chia-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ting-Chang
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Hsueh
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Yue
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013624:Taiwan; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Cervical cancer; Quality of life; Self-esteem; Social support; Survivors