Heiney Sue P, Hazlett Linda J, Weinrich Sally P, Wells Linda M, Adams Swann Arp, Underwood Sandra Millon, Parrish Rudolph S
Palmetto Health Cancer Centers, Columbia, South Carolina, USA.
Res Theory Nurs Pract. 2011;25(4):252-70. doi: 10.1891/1541-6577.25.4.252.
To describe the theory of community connection defined as close relationships with women and men who are members of a neighborhood, a church, a work group, or an organization. Antecedent and mediator variables related to community connection are identified.
DESIGN/METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to assess for relationships among theorized antecedents and mediators of community connection in a sample of 144 African American women aged 21 years and older (mean = 54.9) who had been diagnosed with invasive/infiltrating ductal carcinoma. MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSES: Community connection was measured with the relational health indices-community subscale. Mediator analysis was conducted to assess significance of the indirect effects of the mediator variables, which were fear, breast cancer knowledge, and isolation.
Community connection was found to be associated with three of the four antecedents, cancer stigma, stress, and spirituality, but not associated with fatalism. Effects were mediated primarily through fear and isolation with isolation as was more dominant of the two mediators. Surprisingly, breast cancer knowledge showed no significant mediator role.
The importance of isolation and fear as mediators of community connection is highlighted by this research. The study could serve as a model for other researchers seeking to understand connection in ethnic groups and communities.
描述社区联结理论，该理论被定义为与邻里、教会、工作团队或组织中的女性和男性建立的亲密关系。确定与社区联结相关的先行变量和中介变量。
设计/方法：采用横断面设计，在144名年龄在21岁及以上（平均年龄 = 54.9岁）且被诊断为浸润性/浸润性导管癌的非裔美国女性样本中，评估社区联结的理论先行变量和中介变量之间的关系。测量与分析：使用关系健康指数 - 社区子量表来测量社区联结。进行中介分析以评估中介变量（恐惧、乳腺癌知识和孤立感）的间接效应的显著性。
发现社区联结与四个先行变量中的三个相关，即癌症耻辱感、压力和精神性，但与宿命论无关。效应主要通过恐惧和孤立感来介导，其中孤立感在这两个中介变量中更为显著。令人惊讶的是，乳腺癌知识并未显示出显著的中介作用。
本研究突出了孤立感和恐惧作为社区联结中介的重要性。该研究可为其他试图理解族群和社区中联结情况的研究人员提供一个模型。
