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. 2013 Feb;21(2):421-9.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-012-1536-2. Epub 2012 Jul 13.

Correlates of social support in young adults with advanced cancer

K M Trevino  1 , K Fasciano, S Block, H G Prigerson
Affiliations

Correlates of social support in young adults with advanced cancer

K M Trevino et al. Support Care Cancer. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationship between perceived social support, quality of life (QoL), and grief in young adults with advanced cancer.

Methods: Seventy-one young adults (20-40 years) with advanced cancer were administered measures of social support, QoL, and grief. Regression analyses examined the relationship between social support and QoL and grief.

Results: Higher levels of total social support were associated with better psychological and existential QoL and less severe grief. Availability of someone to talk to about problems was also associated with better psychological and existential QoL and less severe grief. Tangible support was associated with better psychological and existential QoL. Availability of someone to engage in activities with was only associated with better existential QoL.

Conclusions: These results suggest that enhancing social support may improve psychological well-being in this population. In addition, specific types of social support may be particularly relevant to the psychological well-being of young adults with advanced cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose regarding this manuscript, including financial relationships with the organizations that supported this work. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review this data, if requested.

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