Unsupportive social interactions in the weeks immediately following breast cancer diagnosis

Robin M. Lally, Jennifer A. Hydeman, Kathleen T. Schwert, Stephen B. Edge

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Unsupportive social interactions (USIs) experienced by people with cancer negatively affect psychological well-being. Forty-five interviews with 26 women were analyzed using directed content analysis to explore USIs experienced during the stressful pretreatment and early postsurgical periods after early-stage breast cancer diagnosis. Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to USIs were also explored. Seventy incidents of USIs were identified within the interviews and grouped into four previously defined and five additional categories. Anxiety, avoiding future interactions, and nondisclosure of thoughts and feelings were typical responses to USIs. These responses hold implications for women's psychological well-being and need for future interventions and research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)468-488
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Psychosocial Oncology
Volume31
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • avoidance
  • breast cancer
  • pretreatment
  • psychological adjustment
  • qualitative
  • unsupportive interactions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Applied Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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