Purpose: This study evaluates the changes in social networks of older and younger breast cancer patients over a 6-month period following their first diagnosis and how such modifications are associated with changes in the patients' mood state. Design and Methods: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were interviewed shortly after their diagnosis and again 6 months later. Female support network members enumerated by patients were interviewed once within 3 months of the patients' initial interview. Results: Findings based on information for 149 network members of 26 patients indicate that members in older (≥51 years) patients' networks were less likely to be dropped at follow-up (odds ratio [OR] = 0.21, p =. 04) compared with those in younger patients' networks. Network members who provided more support were less likely to be dropped by younger patients (OR = 0.42, p
CITATION STYLE
Ashida, S., Palmquist, A. E. L., Basen-Engquist, K., Singletary, S. E., & Koehly, L. M. (2009). Changes in female support network systems and adaptation after breast cancer diagnosis: Differences between older and younger patients. Gerontologist, 49(4), 549–559. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnp048
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