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The need for friendships and information: Dimensions of social support and posttraumatic growth among women with breast cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2015

Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon ,
Rivka Tuval-Mashiach ,
Gil Goldzweig ,
Rienat Levi ,
Noam Pizem  and
Bela Kaufman
Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Rivka Tuval-Mashiach
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Gil Goldzweig
Affiliation:
School of Behavioural Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv. Yaffo, Israel
Rienat Levi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Noam Pizem
Affiliation:
Division of Oncology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
Bela Kaufman
Affiliation:
Division of Oncology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
*
Address correspondence and reprint request to: Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel. E-mail: ilanit.hasson-ohayon@biu.ac.il or ilanithasson@gmail.com.
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Abstract

Objective:

Employing a cross-sectional design, the current study examined the relationships between various agents and types of support and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among women with breast cancer.

Method:

Eighty married women who were coping with breast cancer completed social support and PTG questionnaires.

Results:

All agents of social support (family, friends, belief-based), excluding spousal support, and all types of social support were found to be related to the various PTG dimensions and its total score. Regression analyses revealed that, among the agents of support, only support provided from friends and belief-based support uniquely contribute to prediction of total PTG score. While examining the contribution of various types of support, only cognitive support had a unique contribution to prediction of total PTG score.

Significance of results:

Various agents and types of support play different roles in the PTG process following breast cancer. Accordingly, friends as an agent of support and information as a type of support seem to be most important in enhancing PTG among women with breast cancer.

Keywords

Posttraumatic growth (PTG)Breast cancerSocial support
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 387 - 392
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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