Role of Perceived Social Support in Obtaining Cancer Diagnostic Care

Background: Few studies have examined whether social support is associated with stress or self-efficacy for obtaining cancer diagnostic care among patients experiencing an abnormality potentially indicative of breast or colorectal cancer.

Methods: Surveys were collected from medically underserved primary care patients following identification of an abnormality suspicious for breast or colorectal cancer using 12-item scale evaluating self-efficacy for obtaining recommended cancer diagnostic care (Arevalo, 2012), the 12-item Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983), and the 12-item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-Short Form (Cohen, 1985). Pearson correlations were conducted between social support, stress, and self-efficacy. Eight multivariable linear regression analyses were used to evaluate whether various types of social support predicted stress and self-efficacy when controlling for age and site of cancer abnormality.

Results: One hundred and five participants completed surveys (84% female; 76% Spanish speaking; mean education: 8.8 years; mean age: 42.1 years). Social support was negatively correlated with stress (p=.031) and positively correlated with self-efficacy (p<.001). When controlling for age and cancer site, social support was not significantly associated with stress [F(3)=1.93, p=.130], but was associated with self-efficacy for getting diagnostic care [F(3)=4.88, p=.003]. In two regressions, both tangible and appraisal social support each explained 11% of the variance in self-efficacy, when combined with age and site of abnormality (p=.009, p=.008, respectively). 

Conclusions: Tangible and appraisal support are critical for a person to feel confident in their ability to obtain follow-up care for a cancer abnormality. Future research should examine the link between social support and receipt of cancer diagnostic care.