Social support and coping in young adolescents with cancer

Abstract

The social support networks and coping mechanisms of adolescents with cancer were assessed in this study. Twenty 10 to 16-year-olds completed the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) and the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experience (A-COPE). Social support networks of youths with cancer were found to include the following: parents, siblings, other relatives, friends, other nonprofessionals, and professionals. Males and females listed a similar number of persons in their personal network (6.5 and 7.0 respectively). Overall, adolescents reported a high amount of perceived functional support (affect, affirmation, aid). They also reported being very satisfied with the general support and support specific for their cancer from different groups of people. Although the sample was limited in size, adolescents in this study reported using a number of coping behaviors that are similar to those reported in the normative data. Moderate positive correlations were found between functional support and specific coping patterns. Significant moderate negative correlations were found between the length of illness and specific coping patterns. Results of the study are discussed and recommendations for future research are made. Nursing implications are discussed as they pertain to clinical practice.