title: Social networks and social support for healthy eating among Latina breast cancer survivors: implications for social and behavioral interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about Latina breast cancer survivors' social networks or their perceived social support to achieve and maintain a healthy diet. This paper describes the social networks and perceived support for healthy eating in a sample of breast cancer survivors of predominantly Dominican descent living in New York City.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spanish-speaking Latina breast cancer survivors enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of a culturally tailored dietary intervention. Social networks were assessed using Cohen's Social Network Index and a modified General Social Survey Social Networks Module that included assessments of shared health promoting behaviors. Perceived social support from family and friends for healthy, food-related behaviors was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' networks consisted predominantly of family and friends. Family members were more likely than other individuals to be identified as close network members. Participants were more likely to share food-related activities than exercise activities with close network members. Perceived social support for healthy eating was high, although perceived support from spouses and children was higher than support from friends. Despite high levels of perceived support, family was also identified as a barrier to eating healthy foods by nearly half of women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although friends are part of Latina breast cancer survivors' social networks, spouses and children may provide greater support for healthy eating than friends.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Involving family members in dietary interventions for Latina breast cancer survivors may tap into positive sources of support for women, which could facilitate uptake and maintenance of healthy eating behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, 722 168th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA. dac2179@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Crookes
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 168th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, 722 168th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tehranifar
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, 722 168th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aycinena
authors.affiliation: Cook for Your Life, 32 Broadway, Suite 1101, New York, NY, 10004, USA.
authors.forename: Ann Ogden
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.affiliation: Teacher's College, Columbia University, 525 W. 120th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Teacher's College, Columbia University, 525 W. 120th Street, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Isobel R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Contento
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, 722 168th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Greenlee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breast cancer; Latina; Nutrition; Social networks; Social support; Survivorship