Social Support and Endocrine Function: A Randomized Trial with Breast Cancer Patients
Abstract
While there is clear evidence that psychologicaI/behavioral interventions with cancer patients provide adjustment and coping benefits (Mark & Meyer, 1995) as well as positive immune and survival benefits (Fawzy et al., 1993; Speigel et al., 1989), the mechanisms for the benefits of such groups are not clearly understood. We proposed that one of the mechanisms for the success of intervention groups may be through the provision of social support. Thus, by receiving needed support, patients may be "buffered" or protected from the more negative effects of the cancer stressor (e.g., depressive symptoms, Spiker, Trijsburg, & Duivenvoorden, 1997; and immune down-regulation, Andersen et al., 1998). We proposed studying the impact of a psychological/behavioral intervention with breast cancer patients, using treatment (intervention) and control (no intervention) arms, on social support and endocrine responses. We also were interested in endocrine functioning as a biological marker of stress severity (Uchino, Cacioppo, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 1996) in breast cancer patients. Data from this study is being used to determine: (1) if an intervention is associated with significantly higher levels of social support among the intervention subjects, (2) if an intervention is associated with significantly lower endocrine stress responses among intervention subjects, and (3) test the stress buffering hypothesis of social support, that is test for an interaction between study arm (intervention vs. no intervention) and initial level of social support (high vs. low) across time (initial vs. post-treatment) on endocrine function (e.g., cortisol).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADB257277
Entities
People
- Deanne M. Golden-kreutz
Organizations
- Ohio State University