Naslov
Relations among social support, coping, and negative affect in hospitalized and nonhospitalized cancer patients

Autori
Hudek-Knežević, Jasna ; Kardum, Igor ; Pahljina, Rosanda

Izvornik
Journal of psychosocial oncology (0734-7332) 20 (2002), 2; 45-63

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
social support; coping strategies; negative affect; hospitalized and non-hospitalized cancer patients

Sažetak
On the sample of 44 hospitalised and non- hospitalised women with breast and gynaecological cancer undergoing radiation therapy, the effects of three sources of perceived social support (family, friends and medical staff) and four coping strategies (problem and emotion oriented, avoidance and physical isolation/suppression of emotions) on negative affect measures (fear, sadness, anger and rejection) and social support on coping strategies have been examined. The results show different patterns of relations between the variables for hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients. For hospitalised patients, medical staff support, family support and problem oriented coping are the most significant predictors of negative affects. On a subsample of non-hospitalised patients, the most significant predictors of negative affects are family support, physical isolation/suppression of emotions and avoidance coping. Concerning the relationship between social support and coping strategies on the subsample of hospitalised patients the results show that medical staff support is a positive predictor of problem oriented coping, while in non- hospitalised patients, friends` support is a negative predictor of physical isolation/suppression of emotion. Although the hypothesis of social support as coping assistance has, to some extent, been confirmed in this study, the results suggest that social support does not predominantly exert its effects of reducing negative affects through coping strategies, but its effects are direct. Because of the different patterns of relations obtained for hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients, stemming from the different situational demands of the two social settings, two different models describing the relations between social support, coping and negative affect have been proposed. The results emphasise the importance of taking into account the different social settings when examining stress and the coping process.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA