Associations of family closeness and seeking social support with quality of life among older African American cancer survivors

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.