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Abstract #160744

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Gregory Johnstone, BA and Jill B. Hamilton, PhD, RN. Adult and Elder Health Nursing Department, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322-4201, 404 - 778 - 1578, gpjohns@emory.edu

The American Cancer Society has reported a decrease in cancer deaths however this decline is less evident among African Americans and African American men who still experience a 40% higher mortality rate than their Caucasian counterparts. Cancer incidence increases with age, compounding the burden experienced by older African Americans. Historically, strong relationships with family and friends have helped African Americans survive oppressive and adverse situations. However, perceived social stigma associated with cancer disrupts relationships leading to social isolation and poorer quality of life. In this study we explore relationships among family closeness, seeking social support, and quality of life among older African American men diagnosed with cancer (n=85). Participants were administered measures of mutuality, seeking social support, and quality of life (SF-12). Social support items were taken from the Ways of Helping Questionnaire, a new measure of coping developed for African American cancer patients. Preliminary results show perceived family closeness correlates with the following types of seeking social support: Others there for me (r=.43, p<.01), Helping others (r=.40, p<.01), and Staying connected to others(r=.44, p<.01). Participants scoring higher on giving help to others scored lower on mental health (r=-.28, p<.05). Participants scoring high on closeness to family and friends had higher levels of physical functioning (r=.20, p<.05). This study will contribute to research regarding social and personal factors affecting quality of life and can serve to guide policy makers and practitioners as they develop and implement community-based programs to enhance social support and quality of life for underserved populations.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify types of seeking social support utilized by older African American men diagnosed with cancer.
• Recognize that cancer may influence how people perceive family closeness and seeking social support.
• Describe how seeking social support and family closeness may influence quality of life.

Keywords: African American, Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Multimedia recording