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Multicenter Study
. 2021 Sep;23(9):1955-1960.
doi: 10.1007/s12094-021-02592-y. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Social support, coping strategies and sociodemographic factors in women with breast cancer

C Calderon  1   2 , D Gomez  2   3 , A Carmona-Bayonas  4 , R Hernandez  5 , I Ghanem  6 , M Gil Raga  7 , L Ostios Garcia  6 , M Garcia Carrasco  8 , M H Lopez de Ceballos  9 , E Ferreira  1   2 , P Jimenez-Fonseca  10   11
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Social support, coping strategies and sociodemographic factors in women with breast cancer

C Calderon et al. Clin Transl Oncol. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the associations between perceived social support and sociodemographic variables on coping strategies.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in 404 women with resected, non-metastatic breast cancer. Participants completed questionnaires: perceived social support (MSPSS), coping strategies (Mini-MAC), and psychological distress (BSI-18).

Results: Sociodemographic factors as age, education, and partnership status were associated with coping strategies. As for maladaptive strategies, hopelessness was more frequent in older people and lower educational level; fatalism in older and single people, and cognitive avoidance was associated with lower educational level. Suppor t from family, friends, and partners was associated with a greater fighting spirit. In contrast, high psychological distress (anxiety and depression) was associated with greater use of maladaptive strategies.

Conclusion: Young people, a high level of education, having a partner, low psychological distress, and seeking social support were associated with the use of adaptive cancer coping strategies.

Keywords: Adaptative strategy; Age; Breast cancer; Coping; Psychological distress; Social support.

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