Social support and adjustment to recurrence of breast cancer

We explored the reciprocal relations between social support and adjustment following a recurrence of breast cancer. The sample was composed of 30 women, ages 34 to 80, 90% Caucasian, who had sustained a recurrence of breast cancer. Social support, coping, and adjustment were measured through telephone interviews on two occasions (T1 and T2) separated by 6 months. Emotional support from a partner and informational support from an oncologist were related to decreased physical problems over time, but were not related to psychological distress over time. Women’s use of positive reinterpretation appeared to mediate these relations. Interestingly, psychological distress was related to decreased partner emotional support over time. These results suggest that it is not enough to consider how social support may influence women’s adjustment; it is also important to consider how women’s adjustment may shape their social support networks.