Effects of Social Support on Psycho-Social Adjustment of Patients with Breast Cancer in Setting of Lahore Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Although the cancer is the disease of geriatrics but it can also occur in young age. Woman who are the younger than 40 years faces the additional challenges. Receiving the news of diagnosis of breast cancer is shocking for a female and this is one of most distressing event that a female experience. One of the major concerns related to physical self concept is their body image. Their body image is most important aspect that has been challenge by breast cancer. Such as they feels unattractive, missing their breast, coping with weight change and hair loss. They feel tired all the time; they face discrimination in their working and social environment. These factors or conditions lead to chronic stress, anxiety and depression and adversely affect the prognosis of cancer patients. Objectives: This study focus on the social issues faced by patients with breast cancer, understanding social support in context of patients with breast cancer. It also investigates the effects of social support in adjustments of patients with breast cancer. Method: A descriptive cross sectional study conducted on patients of breast cancer. Data was collected through questionnaire from the different cancer hospital of Lahore. Data were collected for study through Self administered questionnaire. Demographic Information form, multidimensional social support scale (MSSS) and psychosocial adjustment to illness scale self reflection (PAIS-SR) were used as research tool to collect data. A sample of 100 patients was selected by using convenient sampling method. Descriptive statistics, chi Square and Regression correlation were used to evaluate data. Results: Results showed that there was a significant correlation between the social support scale and psychosocial adjustment scale. Analysis of 100 patients (n=100) of breast cancer done. In this study psychosocial adjustment to illness scale self reflection (PAIS-SR) scales showing overall mean score of 114.75 ± 9.36 in all sub-classes and the total mean score of 41.48±11.04 in multidimensional social support scale (MSSS).