Feather B L, Wainstock J M
Cancer Nurs. 1989 Oct;12(5):293-300.
With the increased incidence of breast cancer in the United States, emotional adjustment of postmastectomy patients is a growing concern. This study was designed to examine demographic and social network variables that relate to social support. Breast cancer patients (N = 613) who had a mastectomy within the past 24 months (means = 12 months) responded to the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ). To supplement the quantitative data, interviews were conducted with 27 women. Results from the NSSQ indicated that women perceived greater emotional support (means = 4.25) than aid (means = 3.97) from their network providers. The average number of persons (both professional and lay) in the women's total network was 8.1, comprising 57% family members and 27% friends. Relationships with network providers were characterized as stable (5-year) and frequent (weekly). Social support increased with age, but the size of the network decreased. No significant difference existed between marital categories in emotional support or frequency of contact. Married or widowed women perceived similar amounts of aid, whereas single and divorced women indicated less. Divorced women reported significantly larger networks than the other three marital status categories. Persons with less education perceived greater emotional support than those with more education. Being married had a significant positive relationship to emotional support (p less than .001).
随着美国乳腺癌发病率的上升，乳房切除术后患者的情绪调适日益受到关注。本研究旨在探讨与社会支持相关的人口统计学和社会网络变量。在过去24个月内（平均为12个月）接受乳房切除术的乳腺癌患者（N = 613）对诺贝克社会支持问卷（NSSQ）进行了回应。为补充定量数据，对27名女性进行了访谈。NSSQ的结果表明，女性从其网络提供者那里感受到的情感支持（平均分为4.25）比援助（平均分为3.97）更多。女性总网络中（包括专业人员和非专业人员）的平均人数为8.1人，其中家庭成员占57%，朋友占27%。与网络提供者的关系的特点是稳定（5年）且频繁（每周）。社会支持随年龄增长而增加，但网络规模减小。婚姻状况在情感支持或接触频率方面不存在显著差异。已婚或丧偶女性感受到的援助量相似，而单身和离婚女性感受到的援助较少。离婚女性报告的网络规模明显大于其他三种婚姻状况类别。受教育程度较低的人比受教育程度较高的人感受到更多的情感支持。已婚与情感支持呈显著正相关（p < .001）。
